Written over two years, the single from her upcoming album Open Arms was inspired by the songwriter’s first visit to Junee in 2016.

“I started writing the song the first time I came, then a year later I came back and wrote the other half. All bar the last line, which I later wrote at the Tamworth Music Festival,” said the 47-year-old musician. When we turned up in Junee, we were welcomed with open arms, we fell in love and that’s where the song came from.”

Ms O’Neil remembers being so taken with the town’s friendliness and hospitality, virtues she believes are unmatched elsewhere.

The song makes reference to the various places Ms O’Neil and husband Dave visited in the town, beginning with the Goulburn Street neighbourhood of her hosts’ home.

“This little family, they were so pure and joyous, despite all the horrible things we see going on in the world,” she said.

“The song wrote itself on the strength of the people we met.”

Recently celebrating 25 years of marriage, and 18 years on the road, Ms O’Neil has seen a lot of the country.

Yet it is Junee that will always illuminate the brightest in her mind’s eye.

“I can only write about things that grab a hold of me, and from the first moment I came to Junee, I felt like I was with family,” said Ms O’Neil.

“I think I’ve fallen in love with the whole Riverina, but I’ve only written a song about Junee.”

It is something of an unfamiliar experience after a life spent on the road. By the age of 22, Ms O’Neil had already lived in more than 40 places around Australia.

“I live on the road in a tour bus. It’s just me and my roadie travelling around Australia,” said Ms O’Neil.

“Ever since I was a kid,  I always loved music. Forget dolls, give me a guitar, that’s how it always was.”

With the song now recorded, Ms O’Neil has travelled back to Junee to shoot the film clip on December 27.

The vista for her music video is yet to be chosen, but Ms O’Neil is encouraging anyone who might like to become an extra in the film to contact her on 0420 308 028.

She will remain in the town until after her final gig at the Coolamon Royal Tavern on January 13. “It’s going to be hard to leave again, Junee is a wonderful town.”