Central Station - True Stories from Outback Australia (Central Station)

On July 25, 2024, a tragic helicopter mustering accident claimed the lives of Peter Ritter and Gavin U’Ren.

It was a privilege it was to not just know them and work alongside them, but call them mates.

Gav, Ritter – you two were bloody good blokes, and funny buggers. The absence of you’re presence will be felt immensely, but I have no doubt you will live on through our memories, which will be traded over cold beers, and around campfires for years to come.

Since getting the call about the accident, I’ve started listening to this episode a couple of times, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it until today. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to record this conversation. It was such a privilege to hear all of Ritters yarns, told in true Ritter style – the ones that made it into this episode, and the ones we thought best to keep off-air.

Anyway that’s enough from me, I’m going to pass it over to you now Ritter – you always did spin a good yarn.

This episode was recorded in January 2022, and originally published in March 2022.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves.

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/woulda-coulda-shoulda/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that when you work on a cattle station, you’re bound to come across creatures other than cattle.

If you’re in the desert country, it might be camels and donkeys – and if you’re way up high in the top end, you’ll probably see water buffalo, and if you’re lucky… or … well… unlucky… a crocodile.

Norman Fisher was born and bred in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and his family not only ran cattle, but domesticated their own herd of buffalo.

However, seeing as one of their stations also had its own supply of saltwater crocodiles – Norman thought he’d try his hand working with them too!

In this episode, I ask Norman about what it’s like to work with both livestock and crocs – this is a yarn you don’t want to miss!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a number of years working on stations, Mariah Maughan knew that she wanted to be involved with the northern beef industry, in particular the Kimberley, but it was time to leave behind her days of being a Jillaroo and find a new role.

In this episode we chat to Mariah about her journey into the industry, and how she persevered to find her place.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Morrell is a Kimberley icon. Now, he won’t like me saying that, but it’s true. 

Dave grew up on cattle stations between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek in the 1960’s, and returned to the Kimberley to set up the first vet practice in Broome. From operating on animals on his kitchen table under the light of a torch, to treating exotic animals from across the globe - there there isn’t much he hasn’t seen or done. He has been an instrumental part of the pastoral industry for over 40 years.

As if being an extremely handy veterinarian is enough – Dave is a Brilliant bush poet. He recently released his first, and long awaited book, titled Johnny James and other verses.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 36 episodes talking about cattle, we thought we’d mix it up and talk about another four-legged herbivore that is also found on many cattle stations… camels!

Our guest today is an incredible woman named Hannah, who, as you’re about to learn, knows an awful lot about camels and has no shortage of yarns about them.

Hannah has managed to fit an incredible amount into her life so far, and in this episode shares stories about living all over the world; falling in love in the Northern Territory, and; finding her purpose working with camels.

In this episode Hannah mentions the short film "Judas Collar" - learn more here: https://judascollar.com 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’ve got something a bit special for you – as you would have heard in Part 1 – Munro Hardy has had many adventures in his life so far. When we were recording Part 2, Munro shared a story that I was not expecting, and it’s pretty hectic – so much so that I thought it should come out a week early in its own episode.

So... enjoy this preview of Part 2, and please, don’t try this at home!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Tapp wanted to be the next Cattle King of Australia, and for a time he was.

In this episode, Toni Tapp Coutts shares the story of a man who was a pioneer, a visionary, a dreamer. A man who turned Killarney Station from a bare block to one of several thriving cattle properties.

But, as his empire grew, so did Bill’s battle with alcoholism. While the empire he worked so hard to build would eventually crumble, his legacy remains strong.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Curtain was living his dream training horses for outback cattle stations, until the suspension of the livestock export trade in 2011 saw his work literally dry up overnight. With bills to pay and the local cattle industry facing financial ruin, Tom knew going back out bush wasn't an option. So, to make ends meet he dusted off his guitar and started singing at a local caravan park.

In this episode Tom speaks about how he overcame that significant setback to build a successful business and win a number of Golden Guitar awards. He is joined by his wife Annabelle, and together they share the story of how they met while Tom was hitch-hiking on the side of the road.

**Note** The audio quality of this episode does not reflect the quality of our other episodes. We have come a long way since our first recording, so please don't think that they all sound like this!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a special bonus episode.

For those of you who don’t know, I am due to have my first child in July – so by the time you’re listening to this, I’ll be well and truly knee deep in nappies!

Before I go on maternity leave, I decided to make hay while the sun shines, and I teamed up with the legends at Territory Natural Resource Management to produce a podcast series.

It’s called Our Territory, Our Future, and you can find it on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. I’ll be sure to link it in the shownotes below.

Today, I’m sharing one of those episodes – and it’s actually Part 1 of 3 episodes. A couple of weeks ago I sat down with two legends by the name of Stu and Brett, and they are experts in all things feral animals, and they run an incredible wildlife and feral animal management business.

If you enjoy the episode, make sure you head over to the Our Territory, Our Future podcast to listen to parts 2 and 3, as well as all the other episodes – including Lakefield, Mataranka and Mainoru Stations!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the dictionary, adapability is: "the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions".

In today’s episode, I sit down with one of the most adaptable people I have ever met – Sally Jolly.

Sally’s family has a long and rich history in the Pilbara pastoral industry, and it’s no surprise that cattle and red dirt run through her veins.

But, just because she started her life on a Pilbara cattle station, it doesn't mean that it was where she was going to stay.

From the wide open spaces of the WA rangelands, to an intensive horticultural farming region in Qld, with many other steps in-between, Sally has shown that her upbringing in the outback has set her up to adapt to any environment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to our fourth episode with Garry Riggs from Lakefield Station in the Territory. When we last left Garry, he had just wrapped up his time in the stock camp at Blina Station. But the end of one chapter marked the beginning of another. Garry found himself working in mining exploration, and trust us, the adventures only got wilder from there.

In this episode, Garry takes us through another round of jaw-dropping stories from teaming up with a Dutch mercenary to the unexpected experience of accidentally smoking weed and being abandoned out bush. And if that’s not enough, he recounts the harrowing day he survived both a helicopter crash and a light aircraft engine failure.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/lessons-learned-in-the-kimberley/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aticia Grey is best known for her team of working dogs and their adventures on her family’s cattle station in the Pilbara region of WA.

Given her cult following on social media, appearance on the ABC’s tv show “Muster Dogs” and release of a book by the same name, you’d be forgiven for thinking she’s been working with dogs her whole life.

But, that’s not the case.

In this episode Aticia tells the story of how she became the first person in her family, and local region, to use a team of working dogs on a cattle station.

A few months ago, Aticia and I had our first children just a week apart, and we recorded this episode while nursing our bubs, so you’ll notice there’s a few ad breaks and sound effects!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Munro Hardy said he wanted to be a pilot, his year 11 careers advisor shut down the idea pretty quickly. So, Munro filed the idea in the back of his mind and started thinking about other options. Once he finished school, he set off on a gap year that would turn into the adventure of a lifetime, as he spent the next decade trying his hand at various roles in agriculture, mining and tourism. 

But, the dream of being a pilot was always there, lingering in back of his mind. And each time he saw helicopters used for mustering cattle, the dream got a little bigger. 

In the fourth and final part of our chat with Munro, he shares the story of how he finally got his pilots licence - or, as he says, a license to learn - and fulfilled his dream of flying choppers on cattle stations throughout the top end. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/take-a-chill-pill-bara/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Doyle has become an iconic character of outback Australia over the past 7 years through her insightful (and hilarious) blog and "Miss Chardy".

Labelled by her husband as an "indoor cat", Dan Doyle is not your typical cattle station manager’s wife. She doesn’t ride horses, and you won’t catch her out on a muster or in the cattle yards.

She’s unapologetically authentic and has built a family and life she loves in the middle of “bum-truck-nowhere” despite not "fitting in".

In this episode Dan and Steph have a yarn about Dan’s experience of marching to the beat of her own drum, and the launch of the “most effed cookbook ever”. 

Want to hear more from Dan? Head on over to the "Wild Spark" podcast to follow her adventures and have a good laugh.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Christian’s childhood couldn’t have been further from that of his cousin, Sams. While Sam was growing up on a cattle station in Central Australia, mustering cattle, James lived 2000km away on the beaches of Sydney, preparing to compete in the Sydney to Hobart sailing race.

However, as fate would have it, a spur of the moment trip to visit the rellies in the bush would seal James’s fate and he hasn’t been able to leave since, cementing his commitment to the industry by purchasing his own mob of cattle in partnership with his cousin.

James always brings a unique perspective to discussions about rural Australia and the cattle industry, so we hope you enjoy hearing his story and point of view.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caitlin Mills has spent the past decade working on cattle stations in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia.

In this episode we chat about Caitlin's early days in the Pilbara, the different versions of how she supposedly met her future husband, and the day she had to call the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can’t live and work in the Northern Territory and not have a story or two to tell. So, imagine how many stories Danny Hayes must have, having flown as a helicopter mustering pilot for over 30 years. I think it’s safe to say that he has seen and done a lot of things, and got the experience to back up his opinions.

So, at 8 months pregnant, I headed out to Mainoru Station, north-east of Katherine, to sit down with Danny and hear some of his yarns.

This episode is the first of two episodes with Danny. In this episode he shares yarns from his childhood and early days as a pilot. In the second episode Danny recounts his history of finding himself in some hairy situations while flying, and how experience and a bit of good luck prevailed so he could live to tell the tale.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the far north of South Australia you’ll find a number of cattle stations belonging to the William’s family, where the second, third and fourth generation work side-by-side.

Cam Williams is a 3rd generation pastoralist and manager of Peake Station. With his wife Kirsty, who featured on our podcast back in Episode 87, and their four kids – Cam is living his dream and there isn’t anywhere else he wants to be.

When I was visiting the William’s earlier this year, I pretty much forced Cam to come on the podcast and share an insight into his life, what he gets up to in the desert, and also a few yarns about the entertaining encounters he’s had on the rare occasion that he swaps the desert for the ocean.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Steph travels to the centre of South Australia to Billa Kalina Station, which has been in the Greenfield family since 1938.

Pastoralist Col Greenfield shares what it's like running a cattle station that is inside the Woomera Prohibited Area, and outside the dog fence.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young man heads north straight out of school and works in the stockcamp. Over the years he progresses to head stockman, and then manager. This story is fairly common and the norm in the cattle industry. 

However, that is not the story of Haydn Sale. In this episode Haydn shares his journey from growing up in Melbourne to running one of the largest aggregates of cattle stations in Western Australia. Haydn speaks candidly about overcoming both personal and financial losses, the importance of mentors, having a different approach to business, and what is truly important to him.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this episode contains names and discussions of deceased persons.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fitzroy Crossing Bull Sale is truly a one-of-a-kind event.

While Bulls Sales are a dime a dozen in the Eastern States, the Fitzroy Crossing Sale is the only bull sale in Northern Western Australia.

This is because the majority of cattle in the pastoral regions of Western Australia are commercial cattle, bred to go direct to market. There are very few cattle studs in the pastoral region, so when pastoralists want to improve their herd genetics, they often have to source herd bulls from the Eastern States – mostly Queelsand, which runs similar breeds in similar environments to northern WA. This means that pastoralists often have to travel to Queensland and inspect bulls on various properties, and then have the bulls trucked back to WA. As you can imagine, there are a huge number of cattle studs on the East Coast – how would you even know where to start?

The Fitzroy Crossing Bull Sale began over a decade ago, with the aim of bringing quality bulls directly to pastoralists in the Kimberley region of WA. The bulls are selected by an impressive team of people, including livestock agents who live and breathe the Kimberley cattle industry, and know exacrtly what their clients are looking for, and a great man by the name of Jimmy Edwards who spent many years flying in the Kimberley and Pilbara, as well as running his own stations, and also knows what type of cattle will do well in the regions.

Each year the event continues to grow, and this year was no different, with total sales exceeding one million dollars. This year also boasted the highest number of registered bidders, including a number from the Northern Territory and Queensland, and a record price of $20,000.

I attended the event and had a quick chat to Jim Edwards, who started the sale all those years ago, Andrew Stewart – one of the livestock agents and auctioneers who runs the event each year, and Rusty Cook, one of the many buyers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Wood started managing Blina Station in the West Kimberley at the ripe old age of 23. In the past 13 years he has met his wife, become a father, and grown as a manager, friend, and member of the Kimberley community.

Matt and Connie recently said a fond farewell to Blina Station, where they have called home for the past 13 and 9 years, respectively, as they make the move to manage the historic Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory.

In this episode, Matt and Connie reflect on their time at Blina – the good, the bad, and the bloody funny.

This episode is brought to you by Murranji Water Drilling, a family owned and operated team of fully licensed, insured and experienced drillers in the construction, mining and water services. They are licensed to drill and service in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. They ensure all water bores are installed correctly and professionally first time, every time! Quality bores tested and guaranteed! Learn more at murranjiwaterdrilling.com.au or find them on Facebook.

This podcast is brought to you by Ariat Australia: the perfect choice for the tough jobs. Ariat boots and clothing work hard, look good and are so comfortable there’s never a need to slow down. Visit ariat.com.au today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first year out of school is equally exciting and terrifying – you’re considered an adult by society, and with that comes both freedoms and responsibilities.

With her high school experience not being the best, and her first job on a station getting off to a rocky start, Pip Bain felt like she had finally found her feet only to learn that her mother had passed away by suicide.

The profound loss of her mother was only amplified by the shock, as Pip learnt she had been sheltered from her mother’s mental health struggles.

In this episode Pip shares her story of how the next decade of her life would be shaped by losing her mother, and how it led her to take the long away around to find her place in this world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you ever take in a child that wasn’t your own?

If you’re imagining a relative, or a friend’s child - the answer might be a simple, straightforward, “yes, of course!”

But what if you didn’t know the child? And, if, once you get to know them, bond with them, and love them, they could be taken away?

That’s the reality of foster parents across the world.

In today’s episode, we hear the story of one family who are raising their 5 children, including 2 foster children, on a remote cattle station in Australia.

To add an extra layer of complexity to the situation, the foster children are Indigenous and the foster family are not. 

As you’ll hear today, it has been one of the hardest, yet most rewarding experiences for our guest.   

**Please note, that we have chosen to de-identify all names and locations in this episode, to ensure anonymity. While the family was consulted about doing the episode, this is one person’s story, and we need to respect the privacy of the children involved.**

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1) We've started publishing new stories for 2020. Find them at www.centralstation.net.au/blog 

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our website to get an email every time we post a new article!

2) Do you have a story to tell? Or, do you know someone else who does? Slide into our DM's or email us at admin@centralstation.net.au to find out more about featuring on our website and/or podcast!

3) JOIN the Central Station Podcast Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/centralstationwebsite/ 

4) #RECLINEWITHABOVINE Challenge - post your pictures in the comment section of this Facebook post, and we'll add them to our album. The top 5 entries WIN a copy of the Central Station book! https://www.facebook.com/centralstationlife/posts/1801496056647619 

5) Don't forget to leave a REVIEW and RATING on the Apple Podcast App. Pretty please!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode has been inspired by Lucy Daley, who featured on Episode 52. When asked what message would she put on a billboard, she answered “No matter how far you’ve come in life, someone has helped you get there.” And aint that the truth. I know that my own initiative and drive has played a huge part in getting me to where I am today, and what experiences I’ve had – but I also regularly reflect and experience gratitude for the people who have helped me along the way. So, in today’s episode, I thought I’d pay homage to some of the people who have been instrumental in my life so far.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apologies for not posting an episode for so long! As the count down to the podcast baby gets shorter and shorter, I have been "making hay while the sun shines" and doing lots of contract work! 

So, here is an oldie but a goodie, and one we get requested all the time!

This episode is based on one of the most popular stories on the Central Station website, called “Tips for station newbies”. From advice when applying for a job, to what to pack and how to behave once you’ve got the job – we cover a lot in this episode! We even cover … sex! So, if you have little ones around, it might be best to plug in some headphones.

Whether you’re heading out to a station for the first time, or you’ve been around for a while, there’s something for everything in this episode. If you have any advice you think we should include on our website, send us a message through our website or any of our social media accounts.

Ok, here is the mandatory disclaimer… The views reflected in this episode are those of the author and podcast host, and do not necessarily represent the views of Central Station staff, people who contribute to our website or our wonderful sponsors. The original blog was written in good humor and that is the same for this episode – we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and you shouldn’t either – we encourage you to take the following with a grain of salt and make up your own mind.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/rain-man/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Part 2 of our episode with Peter Rowe, the Outback Postman. Now, if you haven’t listened to Part 1 – stop right here and go back to find it – because in addition to being a cracker yarn, it provides a lot of context about how Rowie came to be the man he is.

In this episode we talk about the 600km round trip he makes twice a week to deliver mail to small towns and remote cattle stations along the Oodnadatta Track, and the tourist business he runs alongside it.

Once again, Rowie not only spins some great stories, but imparts wisdom which can only be acquired from living life to the fullest.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our last episode, Garry Riggs shared yarns from his early days growing up on cattle stations in the 60’s and 70’s. This episode is the second part of that conversation, and let’s just say I was not expecting to hear about lions, or UFO’s… but, as we heard in part 1 – Garry’s childhood was anything but ordinary.

I’ll be heading out to Lakefield Station over the wet season to record more of Garry’s story, so stay tuned for more episodes.

To start this episode though, Garry recalled just one of the times he’s been bitten by a snake…

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Steph travels to the centre of South Australia to Billa Kalina Station, which has been in the Greenfield family since 1938.

Pastoralist Col Greenfield shares what it's like running a cattle station that is inside the Woomera Prohibited Area, and outside the dog fence.

*This episode was first released in 2021

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Di Pasquale is a born and bred Territory girl. Even though her childhood was colored with living on and visiting cattle stations, she went on the excel in the English equine discipline of Mounted Games, competing overseas 3 times while Representing Australia. In this episode, Jess shares her latests plans to compete in the 2021 Mongol Derby – a 1000km horse race, and we chat about her history of equine pursits in both Australia and overseas put her on the road to Mongolia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Everett family are like many others in the Northern Territory - they live and breathe horses, cattle, and station life. However, their lives changed irrevocably in January 2018 when Dolly Everett took her own life after being the target of relentless bullying at boarding school. She was just 14.

In this episode we sit down with Kate Everett to talk about life before losing Dolly, and the Everett family's newfound mission to make the world a kinder place.

If listening to this episode has left you feeling overwhelmed or if you are in need of support, please know that there are services available to help. For telephone 24/7 crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp. In an emergency, call 000. Parents and carers, visit the new Dolly's Dream Parent Hub to learn more about how to keep your kids safe online: https://parenthub.dollysdream.org.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Edwards has been a fixture of the pastoral industry in Western Australia for decades. From growing up on a station near Marble Bar, to being a mustering pilot and station owner - there’s not a lot Jim hasn’t seen or done. At one point, he literally swapped his Pilbara cattle station for a farm in Queensland – talk about a tree change! But, as you’ll learn in this episode, while you can take the man out of Western Australia … there’s something that keeps pulling him back across, even after all these years.

***

Use the code CENTRAL10 for 10% off your Ezijak!

Ezijak is a 3-in-1 product that will make changing tyres a dream and have you back on the road within minutes.

The Ezijak has a jack, air compressor, and rattle gun!

The air compressor plugs into your 12 volt outlet or it can hook up to your battery and you can pump up the tyre if you have a small leak and drive to your closest Tyre Repair shop, or if you’re out whoop whoop you can slowly make your way back to the nearest homestead!

The Jack will lift your vehicle off the ground with a simple press of a button and lifts up to 3 ton, so easily lifts a 200 series Landcruiser – not that I can afford one of those, but it’s nice to know if I ever upgrade I’ll still be able to use my Ezijak.

And the Rattle Gun will loosen the tightest of wheel nuts with no effort at all – meaning I no longer have to carry a piece of pipe to put over my wheel brace and jump up and down on to loosen and tighten nuts, and then be paranoid that I haven’t tightened them properly as I drive off.

The Ezijak is super easy to use, and if I can do it, then I think we all know that anyone can do it. 

The Ezijak has been tested, approved and improved to Australian standards, and you should be careful of imitations. Just like you, the Ezijak team want to keep your family safe on the road.

Learn more at ezijak.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Williams left home at the age of 16 to work on Nilpinna Station for his childhood idol Jimmy Nunn. That was almost 50 years ago.

Today, Tony is in his 40th year as the manager of Mt Barry Station, near the town of Coober Pedy in SA. In this episode, he shares yarns from the past 5 decades and what he has learnt along the way about life, love, and loss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Reposted episode, recorded in 2021]

In December 2010, Jodie and Hamish McTaggart were looking forward to the chance to sit back and relax for a few days. The family property, Bidgemia Station, was in the worst drought on record, and the newlyweds had been working flat out all year to look after their cattle.

So, when news of rain in the forecast came through the Bush Telegraph, the sense of relief and joy was palpable.

However, those feelings were to be short lived, as floodwaters began to exceed anything experienced in the stations’ 130 years.

What happened next was both catastrophic, and the literal definition of a water-shed moment.

In this episode, both Jodie and Hamish recount their experience of the flood, 10 years later.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Smith and Archie Pollard work on Murray Downs Station, just south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. I recently took the 120km detour off the main highway to pop in for a cup of tea, and within minutes of my arrival Ben made a massive faux pas. So, of course I used it to guilt him into recording a podcast episode because there isn’t much I wont do to bring you a new episode each week.

I can honestly say that this is the most impromptu recording I’ve ever done – and its packed full of yarns and even a few nuggets of wisdom.

I would like to note that this episode was intended to be a bit of light-hearted fun, and you’ll be able to tell that none of us are taking ourselves too seriously during the recording. Ben and Archie are honest and smart young blokes, and I could have crafted a much more serious discussion to show a different side of them, but that wasn’t what we wanted this episode to be – so please keep that in mind when listening.

You can check out Archie's music here: https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/spa-avenue.html 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Kirby started catching wild bulls in the East Kimberley in 1969 and by the time he stopped in 1983 he had caught approximately 10,000. However, when he caught his first bull, John had never worked with cattle before. As in, ever.

This is the story of a young lad from the city who headed north seeking opportunity and adventure, and boy, did he find it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John & Annette Henwood owned the iconic Kimberley cattle station Fossil Downs for over 50 years. In this episode, John shares some family history, memories of his childhood growing up on Noonkanbah Station and meeting his wife.

John also speaks about how an experience in the early 1980’s led him to change his management style, and become the first pastoralist to develop a rotational grazing system in the Kimberley – and take the pathway to practicing regenerative agriculture.

We were joined in this episode by a mutual friend Jardine McDonald, so you will hear him pop up occasionally in the conversation!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jane Sale is a station manager, business owner, wife, mother, and the brains behind the original concept for the Central Station website.

From starting off with an undeveloped 850,000 acre block of land on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert with just 800 head of cattle, today Jane and her husband Haydn manage over 60,000 head of cattle on 8 cattle stations in the East Kimberley region. 

In this episode, Steph Coombes sat down with Jane to find out how after spending the first 26 years of her life in the city of Melbourne, Jane came to be co-managing one of the largest pastoral companies in the Kimberley.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Edwina Robertson is synonymous with incredible imagery of people in rural Australia. In amongst being the country’s most sought after Outback wedding photographer, Eddie has had a number of adventures, including traveling across the country without spending a dollar, and trying her hand at jillarooing at the ripe old age of 34.

I recently caught up with Eddie to discuss her incredible adventures, and we ended up having a very candid discussion about how her experience as a jillaroo was far from picture perfect.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would you do if you knew your life was going to change irrevocably, and there was nothing you could do to stop it?

That’s the predicament Mitch Scott found himself in when he was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome –a rare genetic disorder primarily characterized by deafness and a progressive loss of vision.

In this episode, Mitch speaks about his diagnosis, and the decision to leave the life he had planned behind to head north and work on outback cattle stations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/new-tricks/ 

Central Station is supported by ThinkWater Broome, your local water experts for irrigation projects big and small. Their fully stocked retail store sells the latest irrigation products, including fittings, pipe, filtration and solar supplies. Covering the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia, their knowledgeable and passionate team are experts in the design and implementation of the most water efficient irrigation and water management programs across all sectors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Ormsby has flipped the script on what it means to be a "high school dropout". Despite leaving school at just 14 and having his teachers tell him he'd never make it, Nick's proved them dead wrong.

Now, before he's even hit 40, Nick's running the show with not one, not two, but three companies in horticulture, agriculture, and forestry up in the Northern Territory.

But Nick's journey hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. In this episode, he's taking us back to where it all began. We're talking about the setbacks, the challenges and the opportunities he's had along the way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Annabelle Coppin was a child, she wanted people to eat the beef her family raised on their Pilbara cattle station.

But, simply selling cattle to the market wasn’t enough for her - she wanted to be involved in the entire process, and watch as people picked up packets of her beef from the supermarket.

She wanted them to know that what they were about to cook wasn’t just any old Aussie beef, but that from Yarrie Station - a property her family had been nuturing for 5 generations.

In this episode, Annabelle shares the highs and lows of starting a branded beef business, and how she keeps her dream alive.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/the-farmer-wants-a-son-in-law/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with my friend and former colleague, Clare Atkins.

In this episode we chat about Clare’s role as a Stock Inspector and what that actually is -  because, really, who knows what that means or what they do. Clare discusses the responsibility of upholding WA’s biosecurity laws, and also the unexpected adventures that came with it.

The team you know and love from Landmark Broome are now operating as Northern Rural Supplies. Its business as usual with the same team, same phone number and same location - the only thing they’ve changed is the colour of their shirts (which is blue, if you were wondering!) Northern Rural Supplies proudly service the Kimberley and Pilbara regions specializing in livestock sales, real estate, animal health and management, fencing, fertilizer, water and all other requirements. They stock your everyday needs to feed your dogs, cats, horses, chooks, camels and even goats. The whole team is based in Broome so make sure you give them a call for all of your agricultural and semi-rural needs.

This podcast is brought to you by Ariat Australia: the perfect choice for the tough jobs. Ariat boots and clothing work hard, look good and are so comfortable there’s never a need to slow down. Visit ariat.com.au today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Felicity Brown is a milliner whose work has been featured at New York Fashion Week not once, but three times.

Twenty years before the bright lights of the big apple called her name, Flic was working in a stock camp in the Northern Territory.

In this episode Flic reflects on her time working on cattle stations, even though it was never a part of her plan...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Bean spent his adult life working towards one goal - managing a cattle station. So, when he resigned from his job as the manager at Flora Valley Station after 14 years, for the first time in his life, he didn’t have a plan.

This episode is the third and final part of our chat with Wayne, where he discusses how he navigated his first major career change at the age of 42.

And, as many listeners have been patiently waiting for, we also discuss Wayne’s journey to becoming an accomplished horseman and campdraft competitor. From a time when he almost walked away from the sport, to how he approaches the mental side of competition, and his future goals, there is something we can all learn from Wayne in this episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Ashby is one of Australia’s toughest athletes.

She’s completed 10 Ironman triatholan events, qualifying for the World Championships 4 times, and been ranked in the top 1% of Ironman athletes across the world several times.

Caroline has accomplished all of this while raising a family on a livestock and cropping farm in Western Australia – far from any traditional training facilities.

Her training regime consists of swimming laps in a dam, riding her bike alongside roadtrains, and literally running around the farms gravel tracks.

And this isn’t a story about an athlete who grew up in the city and moved to the country for love – Caroline was raised on a sheep and cattle station 3 hours from Broken Hill, with no regular access to sports lessons or facilities.

So, how did this bush kid fall in love with athletics? And, what motivated her to pursue it at the highest level when she was living in the middle of nowhere?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/cowboys-bulls-broncs-and-a-diamond-ring/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cycle of life and death amongst flora and fauna is par for the course for life in the outback.

But what happens when we are faced with our own mortality, and that of the ones we love?

Today’s story is just that, and so much more. It’s a story of trauma, courage, resilience, and vulnerability. It’s the story of Jane and Haydn Sale, who’s lives were changed irrevocably one July morning in 2010, and the road to recovery they walked together.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/little-people-huge-hearts/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/when-a-pregnancy-is-followed-by-a-cancer-diagnosis/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode I’m sitting down with Mel Bethel. Chances are, you’ve seen Mel’s photography on Facebook and Instagram – she’s the woman you want at your campdrafts because she’s pretty handy with a camera.

But what we see of Mel online is her work, photos of animals and other people – so I wanted to know who this person behind the camera actually was. So, while I was in the town where Mel currently lives, I reached out to her and asked to meet. And, surprise surprise, I invited her on the podcast. I hope you enjoy hearing some yarns from this incredible woman, and learning that there’s so much more to her than the great photos she takes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danyelle Haigh spends 10 months of the year living out of sea container on the back of a roadtrain with her husband and children. Together they travel to remote parts of the Northern Territory to drill water bores. In addition to administering the business, and assisiting with drilling, Danyelle also became qualified to drive the company’s road trains.  

While Danyelle is the first to say she loves her life, and she truly does, it wasn’t anything she’d ever dreamed of. So, instead of thinking about what she didn’t have, and what could have been, this incredible woman decided to carve out time to pursue one of her greatest passions.

If you haven’t already, make sure you catch Danyelle’s first appearance on our podcast in Episode 58.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us have done a first aid course before. It's something you have to do, but don't think you'll ever actually need. We never think that someone else's life will actually be in our hands.

But that was the reality for Jill Greenfield, when a bystander saved her life during a medical emergency. In this episode, we learn about who Jill is and how she came to live at Billa Kalina Station, how a stranger saved her life, and what impact it has had on her life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kempe family’s involvement in the pastoral industry traces back to the 1800’s, when Ernest Courtenay Kempe was in partnership with the Sir Sidney Kidman. His nephew Ernest Ravenscroft Kempe ran away from home at the age of 12, joining him at The Peak station. Between Ernest Ravenscroft Kempe and his son John Kempe they served 100 years with the S. Kidman Pastoral company.

In this episode, the granddaughter of Ernest Ravenscroft Kempe, Helen, shares the story of her grandfather and father.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Williams left home at the age of 16 to work on Nilpinna Station for his childhood idol Jimmy Nunn. That was almost 50 years ago.

Today, Tony is in his 40th year as the manager of Mt Barry Station, near the town of Coober Pedy in SA. In this episode, he shares yarns from the past 5 decades and what he has learnt along the way about life, love, and loss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine this: building a pastoral lease from scratch.

I’m talking about walking onto a piece of land that has never been managed or developed – no fences, no man-made waters, no roads – nothing.

Sounds like something from the 1800’s right? A story of the settlers?

Well, this actually happened in the late 1980s, when Chris Henggeler purchased a new pastoral lease in the east Kimberley.

In this episode we find out how a Swiss backpacker ended up purchasing an Austrlalian cattle station, why there’s still no road access to Kachana over 30 years later, and about one mans mission to bring regenerative agriculture to the Kimberley.

Learn more about Kachana Station here: https://www.kachana-station.com/

Books: Gardeners of Eden: Rediscovering Our Importance to Nature by Dan Daggart, Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making by Allan Savory

Videos: 100,000 beating hearts 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Connie Wood came off her horse and knocked her head, she initially thought not much of it. She hadn’t been doing anything particularly wild or dangerous in the moments leading up to the fall, it was just like any other day on her quiet, dependable horse.

What Connie would go on to experience was no bump on the head – it was, in fact, a significant brain injury.

In this episode, Connie recounts what she can remember of her accident, the unexpected aspects of her recovery, and we discuss the age old sticking point – can you wear a helmet in Northern Australia for extended periods of time without risking heat stroke?

If her voice sounds familiar, it’s because Connie is no stranger to this podcast – this is actually her 5th time on the show, so make sure you go and check out her other episodes.

Earlier in this episode I mentioned a condition that can occur from multiple head knocks and concussions. For anyone who would like to go and read more on it, it’s called Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and it is a brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries. It causes the death of nerve cells in the brain, known as degeneration. It gets worse over time. The only way to definitively diagnosis CTE is after death during an autopsy of the brain.

This episode isn’t intended to advocate for whether or not to wear a helmet – but as always, it’s up to each of us to weigh up the risks, and I hope no one feels socially pressured to avoid using one.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, almost everything in our lives revolves around the idea of flattening the COVID-19 curve. But, there is a second curve we need to work towards flattening, one that no one is talking about; the impacts of the pandemic on our emotional and mental wellbeing.

In this episode we speak to Angela Wall, a Clinical Nurse Consultant of Mental Health, who has over 11 years’ experience as a nurse in the wards and as a nurse therapist.

We thought we’d take a look at the pandemic through a psychological lens to answer questions such as:

Why are we seeing behaviours such as panic buying, hoarding, and aggression?

What are the impacts of all the COVID-19 coverage? and;

What can we do to maintain our own mental wellbeing during these times?

No matter who or where you are, we believe this episode will provide an insight to help us all nagivate the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

******

If you are experiencing distress or are suicidal, or know someone who is, help is available.

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.com.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au
• Mindspot: 1800 61 44 34 http://mindspot.org.au
• Men’s Shed: www.mensheds.org.au
• Virtual Psychologist is a free service that offers qualified and experienced counselling via phone, chat, email and text. It is available 24/7. Contact this service via PHONE on 1300 665 234 or TEXT on 0488 807 266. http://virtualpsychologist.com.au/home

Please help spread this message to help others understand help is just a phone call or text away and they are not alone. *****

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Dyer has found himself in some crazy situations, in the most remote parts of Australia... on assignment.

The job? Freelance journalist and photographer.

It's a far cry from his humble beginnings as a corporate accountant in the metropolis of Melbourne. 

In this episode, Nathan shares the unconventional path he took to land a job so many of us dream of, and some of the life changing experiences he's had so far.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/an-easter-calamity/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helen Kempe was born on Macumba Station in 1950, as the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the S Kidman and Co Pastoral empire.

At the age of 16 Helen moved to the Northern Territory and to this day she has never left. 

Everyone knows Miss Helen, and Miss Helen knows everyone. She is a true treasure of the Territory, and in this episode she shares yarns from the early days when her family started working for Sidney Kidman to where she is today – and what she has seen and learnt over the past seven decades.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

This episode features an excerpt from the book Beyond Alice, read by the author Tanya Heaslip. Tanya has published Alice to Prague (2019), An Alice Girl (2020), and Beyond Alice (2021) is her third memoir. 

Tanya's memoir is a humorous and inspiring story of strength, resilience and the realities of Australian outback life. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The time we spend with people and places doesn’t determine the impact they can have on our lives.

That is so very true for todays guest, Pip Bain. Although her family sold Mt Clere Station when she was just 8 years old, those 8 short years shaped Pips life and love of the land. The same goes for her mother, who passed when Pip was just 18 years old.

In this episode, Pip recalls memories of her time at Mt Clere and how she found her way back to the land. She also speaks candidly about losing her mother through suicide and how it influenced her views on mental health.

For our long term listeners, if any of this sounds familiar, that is because this episode was recorded and published in 2020 when the podcast was fairly new. Pips story is so compelling that I thought it deserved a second run. Be sure to tune in next week for a follow up episode with Pip.

If you are experiencing depression or are suicidal, or know someone who is, help is available. Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.com.au Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au/ Mindspot: 1800 61 44 34 http://mindspot.org.au/ Men’s Shed: www.mensheds.org.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khory Hancock knows what it's like to live in two different worlds at the same time.

An environmental scientist by trade, Khory was born and raised on a large cattle property in Queensland.

It was his belief that agriculture, in particular cattle farming, was a part of the solution to environmental problems, not the cause, that led him down the path of advocacy.

Khory knew it wouldn’t be easy to draw a crowd talking about the environment, so he created an online alter ego called The Environmental Cowboy. By his own admission, the Environmental Cowboy was an oversexualised, self-deprecating character, who used humour and sex appeal to draw an audience.

But, it worked. It really did – and he was reaching millions of people around the world each week.

So, why did he walk away from the Environmental Cowboy and leave his advocacy mission behind?

In this episode, for the first time ever, Khory shares the tale of the birth and death of the Environmental Cowboy. It was an absolute privilege to be the first platform he has shared this story with, and I think you’ll be surprised throughout our chat.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living so far from town is often one of the perks that draws people to work on a cattle station. When you live out bush you can enjoy wide open spaces and often your neighbours are tens of kilometres away, if not hundreds. But what happens when you need services which are only provided in town – like, access to a hospital? In this episode Steph Coombes sat down with Jodie Grant to discuss her experience not only fighting cancer while living on a cattle station, but the challenges of getting a diagnosis in the first place – and the effect of living remotely impacted her experience.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Frances travelled out to a cattle station for work experience, she didn’t think she’d still be there 15 years later.

This isn’t your typical city girl goes country story though. Frances didn’t travel to Wooleen Station because she wanted experience in the stockcamp – she wanted to see their tourism operation.

However, Wooleen was so much more than she expected, and she began to bond with the station manager over his focus on environmental conservation. 

You may have seen Frances on the tv show Australian Story, which has aired two episodes on Wooleen, but in this episode I wanted to go beyond the usual Wooleen story, and learn more about Frances and her experiences.

To start our episode, I asked Frances to tell me about life before Wooleen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/when-it-all-goes-wrong-call-the-flying-doctors/ 

The team you know and love from Landmark Broome are now operating as Northern Rural Supplies. Its business as usual with the same team, same phone number and same location - the only thing they’ve changed is the colour of their shirts (which is blue, if you were wondering!) Northern Rural Supplies proudly service the Kimberley and Pilbara regions specializing in livestock sales, real estate, animal health and management, fencing, fertilizer, water and all other requirements. They stock your everyday needs to feed your dogs, cats, horses, chooks, camels and even goats. The whole team is based in Broome so make sure you give them a call for all of your agricultural and semi-rural needs.

This podcast is brought to you by Ariat Australia: the perfect choice for the tough jobs. Ariat boots and clothing work hard, look good and are so comfortable there’s never a need to slow down. Visit ariat.com.au today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wooleen Station is not your typical cattle station. And, it’s not so much Wooleen itself that’s different, but the way in which it’s managed.

Within months of taking over management of Wooleen, David began implementing a plan to completely destock the station. It was a move he believed was critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of the station.

Over the past 15 years David has implemented a number of management techniques which have drawn both praise and criticism, been featured on two episodes of the television show Australian Story, and resulted in a book.

In part 1 of my chat with David, he takes us along the journey as to how and why he made these decisions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode discusses mental health and suicide – listener discretion is advised.

When Damon Kaylock didn’t have success in landing a job as a jackeroo, he didn’t give up – he just came up with plan B. 

The plan? To work as a station cook, get on to a station, and work his way into the stock camp.

Spoiler alert – it worked. Damon has worked for the same company in the NT for 8 years now, and has been a station cook, jackeroo, and bore runner.

In this episode, Damon reflects on his experiences so far – both good, and the not-so-good. Our conversation took an unexpected turn, with Damon choosing to be very candid about his mental health, and I am incredibly grateful to him for this. We’ve had a few people share their mental health experiences on this podcast, and afterwards I receive messages of appreciation through our Facebook, Instagram and email. So, Damo – thank you for sharing your story, and letting others know they aren’t alone.

If you are experiencing depression or are suicidal, or know someone who is, help is available.

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.com.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au/
• Mindspot: 1800 61 44 34 http://mindspot.org.au/
• Men’s Shed: www.mensheds.org.au
• Virtual Psychologist is a free service that offers qualified and experienced counselling via phone, chat, email and text. It is available 24/7. Contact this service via PHONE on 1300 665 234 or TEXT on 0488 807 266. http://virtualpsychologist.com.au/home/ 

Please help spread this message to help others understand help is just a phone call or text away and they are not alone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is part 2 of our chat with David Pollock from Wooleen Station. Make sure you go and listen to Part 1 first, otherwise you’ll miss the context of this episode!

In this episode, David discusses his thoughts on the “Dingos vs Wild Dogs” debate, and why he has chosen to stop killing all dogs.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is the first in a new sub-series we are launching on our other Podcast (CATTLE STATION CLASSROOM) called “Station Stickybeak”, because it is exactly that – a stickybeak.

No two cattle stations are the same, and as such, neither are management strategies.

I wanted to create this series to share an insight into why pastoralists do what they do, given their circumstances – whether it be location, country type, rainfall zone, infrastructure, ownership model, market, or any of the many other factors influencing management decisions.

In each Station Stickybeak episode I’ll chat to Station owners and managers about a range of topics, broadly covering country, infrastructure, cattle, and people. Now, as this was the first episode, I didn’t realise until partway through that the order of topics I had planned for didn’t really make sense, so we did a bit of a shuffle.

The purpose of this sub-series is not to demonstrate the best or only way of doing things – it’s quite the opposite. To share the who, what, where, when and why of different pastoral enterprises around the country, and show that there are many ways to achieve positive outcomes for people, livestock, the land and business.

For our first episode, I sat down with Col Greenfield from Billa Kalina Station in South Australia. 

If you enjoy listening, be sure to find the Cattle Station Classroom and subscribe!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2010, Jodie and Hamish McTaggart were looking forward to the chance to sit back and relax for a few days. The family property, Bidgemia Station, was in the worst drought on record, and the newlyweds had been working flat out all year to look after their cattle.

So, when news of rain in the forecast came through the Bush Telegraph, the sense of relief and joy was palpable.

However, those feelings were to be short lived, as floodwaters began to exceed anything experienced in the stations’ 130 years.

What happened next was both catastrophic, and the literal definition of a water-shed moment.

In this episode, both Jodie and Hamish recount their experience of the flood, 10 years later.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all heard the stories of city girls who end up in the bush – what about a boy from the 'burbs? Glenn 'Stixy' O'Byrne hails from the surfy coastal town of Bussleton in Western Australia. Despite not having grown up with or even being particularly interested in cattle he managed to find himself working on outback cattle stations and has since worked on properties across Australia, on live export vessels, and in Russia! In this episode Stixy shares a bit of his story so far, and what’s next.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 years after first working on a sheep station, Spencer Robinson finally purchased one of his own. So, in 1976 the family sold their small farm in Victoria and travelled across the country to Mooloo Downs in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. And, the Robinsons are still in the region almost 50 years later.

In this episode, I speak with Waddi Robinson – son of Spencer, and father of Matilda from Episode 66 and Kristy from Episode 126.

Needless to say, Waddi has seen and done a fair bit over the past 50 years; from being a mustering pilot, taking over the family station and purchasing more country, and of course raising a family.

And, let’s not forget the crash of the wool market, the tuberculosis eradication campaign, a flood which wiped out their homestead, and of course the live export ban – just to name a few.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/we-shouldnt-be-here/

The team you know and love from Landmark Broome are now operating as Northern Rural Supplies. Its business as usual with the same team, same phone number and same location - the only thing they’ve changed is the colour of their shirts (which is blue, if you were wondering!) Northern Rural Supplies proudly service the Kimberley and Pilbara regions specializing in livestock sales, real estate, animal health and management, fencing, fertilizer, water and all other requirements. They stock your everyday needs to feed your dogs, cats, horses, chooks, camels and even goats. The whole team is based in Broome so make sure you give them a call for all of your agricultural and semi-rural needs.

This podcast is brought to you by Ariat Australia: the perfect choice for the tough jobs. Ariat boots and clothing work hard, look good and are so comfortable there’s never a need to slow down. Visit ariat.com.au today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon Farming is a topic that been dominating the Australian media over the past several years. I don’t know about you, but even with an agricultural science degree - I still struggle to understand how it works, and how there’s a market for it. If you’re in the same boat, then you’re in luck - because after listening to today’s episode, your understanding of carbon farming will have definitely improved! 

In this episode I’m sitting down with Dave McQuie from Bulga Downs Station in the Goldfields region of WA.  Dave has a carbon project on his station, and in our chat he explains how it works, and what the benefits have been to the landscape, business, and people involved. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Felicity Brown is a milliner whose work has been featured at New York Fashion Week not once, but three times.

Twenty years before the bright lights of the big apple called her name, Flic was working in a stock camp in the Northern Territory.

In this episode Flic reflects on her time working on cattle stations, even though it was never a part of her plan...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/the-crash-of-wool-and-birth-of-tourism/

The LIVEXchange conference is your chance to find out what’s happening in the livestock export industry, with a program that features thought-provoking and informative speakers. Open to all members of the supply chain, you can network with around 400 delegates from across the country, with several social events and a variety of trade exhibits. LIVEXchange is being held the 9th and 10th of November 2022. Visit www.LIVEXchange.com.au to get your tickets. 

This podcast is brought to you by Ariat Australia: the perfect choice for the tough jobs. Ariat boots and clothing work hard, look good and are so comfortable there’s never a need to slow down. Visit ariat.com.au today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/welcome-to-wooleen/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/doggone-kangaroos/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/till-the-cows-come-home/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young Peter Ritter stood in the paddock of his family farm in Moree, and watched as a gigantic Hercules aircraft roared overhead. It was locked in war training exercises — oblivious to the kid standing underneath in awe - a kid whose obsession with aircraft had begun.

It took a stint in a Territory stock camp for Peter's fixation to take shape: by then he knew he wanted to become a helicopter mustering pilot, but the road to get there wouldn’t be straight forward.

In this episode Peter shares his story, from coming off second-best against a bull to spending several years working away from helicopters - all while never taking his eyes off the sky. He reveals exactly what it took to get behind the controls of a chopper, land his career as a mustering pilot, and all the lessons and adventures that have come with it ever since.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grief takes many forms — and Lara Jensen’s has crystallised into anger.

Just over 20 years ago, her brother Christian’s Toyota was hit by a train at a passive crossing, killing him and his two young passengers. This wasn’t a case of drink driving, speeding or being distracted. The findings from coronial inquest showed countless safety issues at both the crossing and the train itself.

On that fateful Saturday night, those kids did not stand a chance.

Since then, Lara hasn’t stopped fighting to make rail crossings safe – and she now represents a dozen families across Australia who have lost loved ones in similar circumstances.

This is an episode about grief, public safety and holding authorities to account. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a warm summer’s day – you’re standing at a sheep market in a Middle Eastern country as tens of thousands of people descend upon the city in preparation for the upcoming celebration of Eid. The atmosphere is palpable – excitement, joy, and stress – picture your local shopping centre on Christmas eve.

Your job? To communicate the significant rules changes as to how these people can transport their sheep from the market to their home – namely, that sheep cannot be transported in a car boot.

You’re in another country, where you don’t speak the language or share the culture, and your job is communicate these changes that have been imposed by another country.

So, what do you do?

Well, this is the situation today’s guest Blythe Calnan found herself in the very first time she worked in the live export industry.

An industry that is highly contentious and known by its failures rather than its successes.

But there have been successes, and Australia has achieved things that no other country in the world has.

That is in part due to people like Blythe, who have invested significant amounts of their time and energy to build relationships and drive change in countries where Australian livestock are sold to. 

In this episode Blythe speaks candidly about the 5 years she spent working overseas in the live export industry, her decision to move on, and how she found her new normal after such an all-consuming, challenging, and rewarding job.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say that "Australia rode to prosperity on the sheep's back". And for more than a century the Gascoyne region of Western Australia was sheep country, running millions of animals and generating the kind of wealth that literally built Australia.

But with the introduction of synthetic fibres the industry gradually lost its shine, and when the wool market crashed in 1991 most stations started transitioning to cattle.

Sean D’Arcy of Lyndon Station was in the first wave of cattlemen in the region. Sean is a truly progressive pastoralist, and has been incredibly proactive when it comes to all things natural resource management.

In this episode we explore the unique challenges of managing country in the Upper Gascoyne from both social and economic perspectives.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the term ‘Serendipity' was coined way back in 1754, it was described as “the accident of finding something good without looking”.

Debbie Dowden’s life has been shaped by a series serendipitous moments. The fixed-wing pilot was working as a flight theory instructor when her future husband enrolled in her class. In what can only be described as a whirlwind romance, Debbie soon found herself living 600km away on a sheep station in Mount Magnet, WA. 

This is part one of a two part chat with Debbie, where she tells the story of how she found herself living a life she’d never planned on, but at the same time it seemed like everything in her life had been leading her there.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In last week’s episode Debbie Dowden shared the story of how she found herself living a life she’d never planned on, but at the same time it seemed like everything in her life had been leading her there. 

That life was centred around her new husband’s family sheep station in Outback WA. A vast property that had been in the family for over a century, where everyone knew their roles, and had the skills to do the job. Everyone, but Debbie.

So, Debbie began to navigate her new life, trying to find her place within her new family, home, and business. And, find her place she did – Debbie is a seasoned professional when it comes to running that same vast family property, and in 2022 she was named as a State Finalist for the Rural Woman of the Year award.

In this episode Debbie shares how she found her not just her place, but also her purpose. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Station [SHORT STORY] episodes bring the stories from our website to life through the authors themselves. 

Find the story from this episode here: https://www.centralstation.net.au/the-challa-mustering-ndp/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 138 we heard the story of the catastrophic flood that saw Bidgemia Station engulfed by floodwater for the first time in it's history.

In this episode we are again joined by Hamish & Jodie McTaggart as they share insights into the 1.4 million acre pastoral property which has been in the family for 75 years.

We'll hear stories about the early days of Bidgemia and how life has changed throughout the generations of McTaggarts at the helm. Jodie and Hamish also share their thoughts about the future of the station.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the jobs Libby Finlayson imagined herself doing, "Divorce coach" was not on the list.

Growing up on a sheep station in the isolated Goldfields region of Western Australia, Libby developed an affinity for horses, livestock, and all things to do with the bush. It's no surprise that she ended up running a farming business with her husband and young family.

But, sometimes life has other plans.

"I want a divorce". Those four words spoken by her husband changed Libby's life irrevocably, and in this episode we are truly privileged to hear Libby speak about it with such candor.

We explore the differences between urban and rural divorces, how Libby's upbringing influenced her recovery, and how she rebuilt her life and found a whole new career.

We recommend tuning into the Courage Unravelled podcast where we first heard Libby's story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One moment can change your entire life.

Ashley Dowden learnt that lesson at age 11, when he survived an accident that claimed his mothers life and left his father with one arm.

Ashley’s childhood was cut short as he stepped up to support his father in running the family sheep station. 

In the 4 decades since, Ashley has continued to face his share of challenges, but his commitment to the family property has never wavered.

In this episode Ashley shares parts of his journey, and we explore how his deep love of the land he calls home has allowed him to not just persevere through the hard times, but build a life full of joy and love.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graduating high-school is possibly the greatest pressure faced by young Australians. It's an un-challenged belief that without achieving this milestone you'll be stuck in a dead-end job with no career prospects.

But, did you know that the education system hasn't undergone significant changes since before the industrial revolution? We know that everyone learns differently, and there's different ways to demonstrate knowledge - but our education system is incredibly rigid. If you cant sit in a classroom for 8 hours and demonstrate your knowledge through essays and exams, then... well.... bad luck.

In today's episode we hear the story of Evan Casey, who, after leaving high school in year 11, has gone on to build an incredible life and career, filled with opportunities and experiences that many of us dream about.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is titled “10 life lessons learnt from living remotely”, and while the author wrote it about their time living on a remote cattle station, we think that after living similar kind of isolation during COVID, all of us can relate to this episode!

The first time Meg lived on a cattle station when she was 18. She didn't work on another station until 10 years later - and realised she saw things quite differently as a 28 year old.

In this episode Meg discusses some of the important things she has learnt over the years living remote which may help people that have been remote for a while, people looking to make the move to remote parts of Australia, or anyone who’s been through a lockdown during COVID-19.

Ironically we recorded this episode just weeks before COVID-19 hit!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.