As many thousands of people rushed to enlist in the armed forces to serve in 1914, rural communities had a strong presence in the service, and a loyalty to the crown, said Mrs Kensit.

The novel is a collection compiled from diaries, letters, and photographs from the greater Crookwell region from 1914 to 1918.

One of the stories to feature in Dust to Mud is the 7th Light Horse Regiment. The regiment was raised in October 1914, and assigned to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade.

The 7th Light Horse was responsible for a sector on the far right of the ANZAC line, and played a defensive role until it finally left the peninsula on 20 December 1915. 

Many young men from the region around Taralga, Crookwell, Binda, Bigga and Goulburn were part of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. 

Dust to Mud includes the stories and events of a rural community at home, and the people who served, and how it impacted them, said Mrs Kensit.

Frank Willis bought a camera in Egypt in 1915, he took exquisite photographs said Mrs Kensit, he was killed on 4 August 1916. Included in the return of his personal belongings were the negatives, although his camera did not.

In 1914 the Broderick brothers rushed to enlist, as did the McDonald brothers, George Hills, John Skelly, Kearin Spackman, James Montgomery and William Marks.

Even more local boys enlisted in 1915, Fred Aldridge, Philip Arnold, Alex Campbell, Edward Cartwright, Allan Churchill, the Howard brothers and sister, Raymond and Walter Clements, Nesbitt Emery, Patrick Frost, James Hearne, the Marmont brothers, Mr Pagett and his two sons, the Stevenson brothers, Earnest Tracey and James White.

This community contributed more than it’s share of personnel.

In 1916, 1917 and 1918 Edward Abbey, Henry Allport, David Apps, Erskine Bevan, Doug Branson, Owen Butt, three Collins boys, Augustine Cosgrove, Cecil Cramp, Nathaniel Cummins, Arthur Dooley, Walter Gay, two Hearne boys, the Kensit brothers, James McCormack, the O’Connor boys, Charles Prell, Austin Price, Thomas Reeves, Dudley Shepherd, Edger Stephenson and Harold Webster.

Eight local women enlisted, Rita Ahern, Netta Howard, Florence McDonald, Annie McKenzie, Leslie smith, Edith Toff, Catherine Tully and Ada Willis.  

“Dust to Mud has been a labour of love. I aspire to salute and memorialise the brave men and women of rural Australia who gave unconditionally, so we could live in this safe and unrestricted country,” she said.

“As a community this area did more than its fair share, and in this centenary year, I feel it is only right that we salute these young women and men,” said Mrs Kensit.

The launch will be held on 29 September at the Crookwell RSL at 5.30pm.