During the 1950s Australia wanted to add to its population, so orphans were sent from the United Kingdom to children's homes there. Colm is one of these British orphans. He is living in a home for boys, but the people at the home are very cruel and Colm decides to run away. He gets to know an old man, Bill, and his dog Rusty. When the police start to search for Colm, Bill offers to take him with him in Tin Annie - his old pick up truck (ute) - as he travels through the Australian outback. Bill is hoping to get work on the Dog Fence which runs from south to north-eastern Australia.