Guest Contributors (2013-)
From brats to bovines
Written by Sarah Johnson It started off as a distant dream back when I was in high school. You know.. the good old year 10 subject “careers”, when it’s that dreaded time where you’re almost an adult and have to start making career choices. Everyone else was expressing that they wanted to become lawyers, engineers, […]
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When the warning signs aren’t there
Written by Lara Jensen, Wondinong Station I answered the knock at the door the night my brother and his two friends were killed. It was just before midnight when two local police officers arrived at our Murchison homestead. Shearing was due to start the following day. Around our kitchen table, we learnt that three beautiful […]
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Generations of Innovation at Wirrealpa station
Written by John Fargher, Co-founder of Agriwebb Public perception still believes that time somehow stopped for the everyday farmer and left us lagging behind, needing to catch-up. If growing up on Wirrealpa Station in South Australia has taught me one thing – it’s that the spirit of Australian innovation runs deep in our veins and […]
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Breast cancer in the bush
Written by Sally Towne – Gogo Station As October is Breast Cancer awareness month, I feel the time is now right to share a very personal journey that I have experienced. My aim for this story is to reach out to as many people as possible, both men and women, particularly in rural, regional and […]
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The unspoken struggle
This may sound like just another city girl meets country boy love story but stay with me. Hopefully, it will be worth the read. Five years ago, I was living in the city enjoying all the perks it had to offer. I had just returned from travelling Europe and was in search of a new […]
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Basic beef
*This blog has been contributed anonymously. The number one thing I have found from working in the northern beef industry is that there is as much to be learnt from doing things the wrong way as there is from doing them the right way. Let me back up for a moment: over the previous 30 […]
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Macro and Micro isolation – A bold contrast
Written by Munro Hardy I recently moved to Sydney for a new position with a Tech company – a complete 180 for me. I’d spent the last 13 years in the Northern Territory working in the great outdoors (aside from 2 years working underground, where I was focussed on saving money for my chopper license […]
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Tips when moving to town
Written by Miss Jodie A couple of years ago my husband and I moved from acreage on the outskirts of beautiful Katherine to suburban Brisbane. We both found it challenging to say the very least and made some epic blunders along the way, but we learnt and survived, and I thought that I would share our […]
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Unexpected isolation in the middle of nowhere
Written by Grace Hambling – Humbert River Station Editors note: Grace met her fiancee while working in the Northern Territory. They eventually moved down south, but like many others, found themselves drawn back north. They returned to the NT over the 2019/20 Christmas/ New Year break. Upon our return to living on a Cattle Station […]
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10 life lessons I learnt from living on a remote cattle station
Written by Miss Meg – former stationhand in the Northern Territory Living remote can challenge you in many ways. Some people just flat out say “No, I couldn’t do it,” some people want to try it for a while and some people love the lifestyle. I know it’s not for everyone and to be honest […]
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Are you bogged, mate?
Written by Mary O’Brien I spend a lot of time raising awareness about spray drift but recent events have compelled me to talk about something that disturbs me even more than spray drift. I have spent my whole life working in rural and remote Australia and always around country blokes; working with them, for them, […]
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Things I miss about northern Australia (and some things I don’t)
Written by Elina Andersson Hellberg, former stationhand – Kimberley region, WA Three and a bit years after moving back home there are still a few things about rural Australia that make my heart ache from longing. I miss waking up whilst it was still dark, it meant that I saw more sunrises than I had […]
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When a pregnancy is followed by a cancer diagnosis
Written by Hayley Price – Rookwood Station In March 2019 I was 30 weeks pregnant, sitting in my GPs office patiently waiting for my doctor to make phone calls. Recent tests indicated that our little girl’s stomach was measuring below the second percentile, as well as my blood tests indicating that I needed to see […]
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Don’t spend too much time looking in the rear-view mirror
When learning to drive we’re constantly reminded about the importance of checking our rear-view mirror, not just when reversing or changing lanes but for general awareness of our surroundings and enhancing our peripheral vision. However, spending too much time looking in the rear-view mirror can be hazardous as it distracts us from what’s happening in […]
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Things you should know before applying for a station job
Written by Steph Coombes, Central Station Editor So, you’ve decided to take the leap and head “up north” for a year of cattle work, dusty days, and memories that will last a lifetime. You’re about to be one of tens of thousands of people who have walked onto a cattle station, chasing adventure and opportunity. […]
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It comes at a cost
Host: Horses for Courses for Bush Kids Written by Tiani Cook, Suplejack Station, Northern Territory Hi there, my name is Tiani Cook and I’m the founding director of Horses for Courses for Bush Kids. I’m an enthusiastic advocate raising awareness of the many issues rural and remote families face. I’m also passionate about finding solutions […]
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The importance of mateship in remote Australia
Host: Horses for Courses for Bush Kids Written by Tiani Cook, Suplejack Station, Northern Territory As you may have figured out from my previous two blogs, Horses for Courses for Bush Kids (H4C) uses the platform of horses to raise awareness of the issues facing rural and remote children and their families, but the annual […]
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The challenges faced by bush kids
Host: Horses for Courses for Bush Kids Written by Tiani Cook, Suplejack Station, Northern Territory At the beginning of October last year I saddled up with ‘Horses for Courses for Bush Kids’ and took it to Central Australia to continue raising awareness of the issues facing Aussie Bush Kids and their families. Riding along the […]
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Horses for courses
Host: Horses for Courses for Bush Kids Written by Tiani Cook, Suplejack Station, Northern Territory Hi there, my name is Tiani Cook and I founded ‘Horses for Courses for Bush Kids’ back in 2017. Along with a childhood friend Natuccia Walker, we rode horses 1,000kms across the Northern Territory finishing up in Darwin over a […]
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4 cousins, 1 classroom
Written by Talya Kirkham, Governess – Moorarie Station, Meekatharra, Western Australia It was midnight in October 2015 after a 22-hour flight from Europe when I landed in Perth, jumped in my little blue Holden Cruze and drove 10 hours to Moorarie Station Meekatharra. I got to my aunties station at around 10.30am to head to […]
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It’s only a word
Written by Nic Kentish, Resource Consulting Services Bad habits generally creep in slowly. My friend who happens to also be my livestock selling agent has developed a bad habit over his career. He sometimes says to me, “I can get rid of those cows for you.” Or, “I will quit those lambs for you.” I […]
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100 years of feeding Australian livestock
Written by Dean Maughan Milne Feeds has been around for over 100 years but has been owned by the Laitt family for the last 40 odd years. With the company’s close involvement over time with chicken, cattle, sheep and pig production, Milne Feeds has become a feed mill that is not just interested in producing […]
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Helping weaners
Written by Dean Maughan In my last blog I discussed how I got hooked on the Kimberley and how I developed this passion to bring some of my knowledge and experience from working with dairy cattle to the north to help with weaner beef cattle management. Over a period of four years of taking annual […]
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The dream that “took a while”
Written by Dean Maughan As a kid, I grew up on a dairy farm in Harvey, southern WA. Right from a very young age I became involved in horses and dairy cattle. This progressed to me developing the “dream” that when I finished school, I would like to be a “Ringer” and spend a year […]
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Building in the bush
Host: Remote Building Services Written by Lise Browning, co-owner – Remote Building Services. Here is a day in the life of a remote builder… 5:50am Wake up. There is smoke haze everywhere, definitely fire season now in remote Northern Territory. 6:00am Queue for the loo. Mustering camp here, 20 people and 2 loos, yay! Queue […]
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Lessons learned in the Kimberley
Written by Sophie Heffernan, Guest contributor. So you’re probably reading this expecting to hear another romanticised story about a young girls adventure ‘up north’ and in some ways you’re probably right… But please, just hear me out. The lessons and values I acquired living in the Kimberley, working on a remote cattle station, accompanied me […]
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Proving our sustainable credentials to consumers
Host: AgForce Queensland Written by Cass Heal, AgForce Projects Co-ordinator. AgForce has been the unifying voice for Queensland’s beef, sheep and grain producers since 1999. Our strength continues through our membership and a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce has approximately thirty staff based in Brisbane and regionally around Queensland. Growing […]
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Beating the cycle
Host: AgForce Queensland Written by Amelia Shaw, AgForce Policy Officer. AgForce has been the unifying voice for Queensland’s beef, sheep and grain producers since 1999. Our strength continues through our membership and a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce has approximately thirty staff based in Brisbane and regionally around […]
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The problematic Pimelea plant
Host: AgForce Queensland Written by Marie Vitelli, AgForce Weeds Policy Officer. AgForce has been the unifying voice for Queensland’s beef, sheep and grain producers since 1999. Our strength continues through our membership and a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce has approximately thirty staff based in Brisbane and […]
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A slice of life
Host: AgForce Queensland Written by Sharon Purcell, AgForce Southern Inland Queensland Regional manager. AgForce has been the unifying voice for Queensland’s beef, sheep and grain producers since 1999. Our strength continues through our membership and a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce has approximately thirty staff based in Brisbane […]
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Helping landholders fight the scourge of wild dogs
Host: AgForce Queensland Written by Brett Carlsson, Senior Wild Dog Coordinator. AgForce has been the unifying voice for Queensland’s beef, sheep and grain producers since 1999. Our strength continues through our membership and a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce has approximately thirty staff based in Brisbane and regionally […]
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Mustering with Pantaneiros
Written by Lindsey Perry This is the fifth and final installment in a series about life on a cattle station in Brazil. You can find part one here, part two here part three here, and part four here. I was sleepy and admittedly a little hungover, but the rhythmic footfalls of my chestnut, Madrinador (meaning old wise […]
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The stolen ranches of Brazil
Written by Sarah Martin This is part four in a 5-part series about life on a cattle station in Brazil. You can find part one here, part two here and part three here. This past week I’ve talked a lot about the great experiences I had in Brazil, but that’s not to say that the country […]
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Yarns from Brazil
Written by Sarah Martin This is part three in a 5-part series about life on a cattle station in Brazil. You can find part one here and part two here. While out on the property, we had no access to phone reception or internet. I am guilty of being on my phone way more than I […]
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Mustering in Brazil
Written by Sarah Martin This is part two in a 5-part series about life on a cattle station in Brazil. You can find part one here. Our alarms were set for sparrow’s fart – or, given that we were now in the Pantanal, curicaca’s fart. The curicacas were crowing long before the sun and they […]
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Brisbane to Brazil
Written by Sarah Martin This is part one in a 5-part series about life on a cattle station in Brazil. Vivid. It was the only word we could find to truly describe how Brazil felt to us. The culture, the food, the animals, the music, the traffic. Everything in Brazil just seemed so much “more”. […]
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The Hayes Family
Host: Undoolya Station Written by Nikita Hayes The Hayes family has a long history in Central Australia. Here’s a look at how this pioneering family began back in the 1800’s. HAYES, WILLIAM 1827-1913, a pastoralist, William was born in Liverpool and brought up in Wales, where he became a butcher. He claimed that when he […]
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Rebuilding a herd and trying to make ends meet!
Host: Boreelum Station Written by Adam Coffey – Station Owner/Manager Now you might be wondering if we actually run any cattle at all here at Boreelum?!! Well, yes we do. We currently have a mixed enterprise, running agistment cattle, trade cattle and our own breeders. Ultimately we’d like to just have our own breeding herd with […]
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Boreelum – part 2
Host: Boreelum Station Written by Adam Coffey – Station Owner/Manager We’ve been on Boreelum for almost 2 years now and it is becoming increasingly apparent, like any other redevelopment scenario, that there are plenty of ways to spend the almighty dollar. At this stage of the game we’re really trying to focus in on the 80/20’s […]
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The next generation
Host: Boreelum Station Written by Adam Coffey – Station Owner/Manager One thing that we often think about and discuss given our experiences are the difficulties facing young people trying to gain a foothold in Australian Agriculture. The huge capital costs associated with land ownership and/or inventory required to operate a primary production enterprise are too large […]
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Boreelum
Host: Boreelum Station Written by Adam Coffey – Station Owner/Manager So, moving on from our last post where Jac introduced us and gave you a brief background, I thought I’d fill you in on our new home “Boreelum” and what we’ve done with the place since we purchased it almost two years ago. We often call […]
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Taking the leap
Host: Boreelum Station Written by Jacynta Coffey – Station Owner/Manager Hi everyone! This week we will be taking to you to our little part of the world on Queensland’s central coast. Today, a look at our story so far – my name is Jacynta (Jac) and my husband Adam and I are first generation cattle producers. […]
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Red Dog
Host: Zoe Hayes Location: North West Queensland Red dog? Nah mate, dead dog! Driving along a dirt road past rural properties in Blackall QLD it was a sight & stench for sore eyes, but one I took as a rare photographic opportunity. Wild dogs strung up swinging with the breeze hanging from farmer’s trees. Poetic or […]
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What an adventure!
Host: Zoe Hayes Location: North West Queensland Now, I was always told when I first went to work on a cattle station for the first time with a boyfriend that “if you can work in a set of cattle yards together and survive, well, you’ll survive anything”! Although I thought that to be very true because […]
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The Great Wet of 2018
Host: Zoe Hayes Location: North West Queensland Well I suppose Mother Nature heard our prayers when we poured our hearts out to her asking to wet the dusty ground AND ease up on the hot grueling days we were working in; she pulled through! As I sit in my room on day ten of the ‘wet […]
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Dust off the depression
Host: Zoe Hayes Location: North West Queensland If only it were that simple…. Photo credit: Jacqueline Curley, Gipsy Plains Brahmans The drought has been beyond cruel in Queensland, and while the stock are suffering, our farmers are too. The livelyhood they depend on gambles on Mother Nature & at this stage she isn’t playing game. The […]
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Miss Zoe Hayes
Host: Zoe Hayes Location: North West Queensland Hi my name is Zoe Hayes, I’m hoping that my story may inspire and/or empower someone reading this today. My story begins back in 1994 when I was born but let’s skip a fair few paces forward to September 2012 where my life was hugely impacted by my mums […]
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From station kid to mining environmentalist
Written by “Enviro Em”, Environmental Officer & proud former station kid. A lot of the time I am asked “How can you be an enviro if you grew up on a farm?” This used to annoy me so much! But, now I see it as an opportunity to brag – farmers, pastoralists, and landholders […]
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A different way to “retire”
Host: Direct Drilling Written by Jill Williams – Co-Founder & Operations Manager, Direct Drilling Always best to start with introductions of who’s who. Direct Drilling was founded by my partner Andrew McWaters and myself, as one of the twists and turns of live’s journey. Andrew (aka) Andy, and myself, retired for all of 9 weeks, […]
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Save SOTA – Smith family story
Last week the WA government announced a decision to have all 5 Schools of the Air remain open. This has been a huge win for rural and regional families across the state. The following was written before the government announced the reversal on their decision to close all 5 schools at the end of 2018. […]
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Save SOTA – Grant family story
Last week the WA government announced a decision to have all 5 Schools of the Air remain open. This has been a huge win for rural and regional families across the state. The following was written before the government announced the reversal on their decision to close all 5 schools at the end of 2018. […]
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Ridgeview Station – Sneak Peek Part 5
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Ridgeview Station’, which you can purchase here. Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton’s friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie’s parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. […]
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Ridgeview Station – Sneak Peek Part 4
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Ridgeview Station’, which you can purchase here. Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton’s friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie’s parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. […]
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Ridgeview Station – Sneak Peek Part 3
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Ridgeview Station’, which you can purchase here. Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton’s friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie’s parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. […]
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Ridgeview Station – Sneak Peek Part 2
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Ridgeview Station’, which you can purchase here. Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton’s friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie’s parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. […]
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Ridgeview Station – Sneak Peek Part 1
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Ridgeview Station’, which you can purchase here. Many of Peter and Kelsie Dalton’s friends thought they were crazy when they bought Ridgeview Station. But five years on, their hard work, help from Kelsie’s parents, and record rainfall have them in high spirits as the summer muster approaches. […]
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Go for the Good of the Whole – Part 2
Written by Shaelyn Meyer – Consultant, Crossroads Ranch Consulting, Montana USA. Read part 1 here. Below, I will compare the various ways the operation has changed in the past 20 years. These are changes that have worked for us, but holistic management is not about applying a cookie cutter management plan made up by someone else. […]
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Go for the Good of the Whole – Part 1
Written by Shaelyn Meyer – Consultant, Crossroads Ranch Consulting, Montana USA. Hello! I’m writing to you from Montana! I grew up on a 10,000 acre ranch in rural eastern MT, but of course, the “rural-est” places in the U.S. still don’t quite compare to the Australian Outback. I know because I spent a year in AU; […]
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Community in the pasture
Host: HerStory Western Lifestyle Photography Written by Kaylie Franklin With August, nearly behind us at the community pasture things are starting to gear up for the fall season. I know, fall, already! We definitely capitalize on our long summer days in Canada. Sun rise at 5:00am most mornings and sets at 10:15pm most evenings. We […]
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The Smoke – Branding in Canada
Host: HerStory Western Lifestyle Photography Written by Kaylie Franklin Just when we thought winter would never end and the snow would never stop, the sight of green grass and the sounds of momma cows bawling for their new baby began. In my opinion this is one of the best times of year in Alberta, and […]
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“Never a Ringer” – Jimmy Mead – Camfield Station, NT
Host: Kent Saddlery Written by Helen Kent. This story excerpt has been contributed by Lyle and Helen Kent of Kent Saddlery from their book “Stories of Australian Country People“.’ “Well, I actually sorta grew up in the Territory and Kimberleys. I was born in 1933; I’m from Toowoomba in Queensland and I left school at 11. […]
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“Fifty Years of Family, Floods, and Favour” – Ernie and Kylie Camp – Floraville Station, Qld Gulf.
Host: Kent Saddlery Written by Helen Kent. This story excerpt has been contributed by Lyle and Helen Kent of Kent Saddlery from their book “Stories of Australian Country People“. Mugs of tea have been poured and a plate of freshly-baked Anzac biscuits sits in the middle of the table, begging to be dunked and enjoyed. Overhead, […]
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“A Snapshot of a good life: living in the bush” – David & Margie Daniell, McArthur River Station, Borooloola NT
Host: Kent Saddlery Written by Helen Kent. This story excerpt has been contributed by Lyle and Helen Kent of Kent Saddlery from their book “Stories of Australian Country People“. Returning to the couple’s time at Walhallow, where any self-respecting crocodile would never be found, the Daniell family have accumulated memories of moments and events, which in […]
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“You Do The Work” – Ted Fogarty, Lucy Creek Station, NT
Host: Kent Saddlery Written by Helen Kent. This tribute and story excerpt has been contributed by Lyle and Helen Kent of Kent Saddlery, from their book “Stories of Australian Country People“. Following the recent passing of Merv Wortley Senior of Ruby Plains Station, Halls Creek, WA, we received more sad news from Allan Fogarty of Lucy Creek Station, […]
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“An Outback Life” – Merv Wortley Senior, Ruby Plains Station, WA
Host: Kent Saddlery Written by Helen Kent. This tribute and story excerpt has been contributed by Lyle and Helen Kent of Kent Saddlery. Recently, it was with great sadness that we received news from Jenny Rigg of Ruby Plains Station, Halls Creek, WA that Merv Wortley Senior had died. The father of Merv Wortley, current manager […]
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How to become a Head stockperson (in our company)
Host: Montejinni Station Written by Amanda Brown – Managers Assistant, Montejinni Station. How does a person become the leader of a camp of ringers? What skills are required to climb the ladder and have a successful career? What steps does one need to take to achieve the goal of becoming a head stock person? These are […]
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What about the others?
Host: Montejinni Station Written by Amanda Brown – Managers Assistant, Montejinni Station. OK so what about everyone else? We often talk about the ringers, the head stock persons, the managers – but what about the rest, the people who are so essential to making a cattle station run successfully? Do you know who I am talking […]
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A Letter of Thanks
Host: Montejinni Station Written by Amanda Brown – Managers Assistant, Montejinni Station. I don’t think too many people would have given a girl like me a start eight years ago, and I find it hard to express how thankful I am that someone did. I’ll give you a bit of an idea. I hail from […]
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The Heartbreak Ladies Cricket Club
Written by Toni Tapp Coutts The following is an extract from My Outback Life, the sequel to the bestselling A Sunburnt Childhood, this new book captures Toni’s time living the Gulf country of the NT, running a cattle station with her husband, raising her children amongst snakes, centipedes and saltwater crocs, riding in rodeos and […]
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The Heartbreak Bush Ball
Written by Toni Tapp Coutts The following is an extract from My Outback Life, the sequel to the bestselling A Sunburnt Childhood, this new book captures Toni’s time living the Gulf country of the NT, running a cattle station with her husband, raising her children amongst snakes, centipedes and saltwater crocs, riding in rodeos and […]
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The Centipede
Written by Toni Tapp Coutts The following is an extract from My Outback Life, the sequel to the bestselling A Sunburnt Childhood, this new book captures Toni’s time living the Gulf country of the NT, running a cattle station with her husband, raising her children amongst snakes, centipedes and saltwater crocs, riding in rodeos and […]
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Heartbreak Hotel
Written by Toni Tapp Coutts The following is an extract from My Outback Life, the sequel to the bestselling A Sunburnt Childhood, this new book captures Toni’s time living the Gulf country of the NT, running a cattle station with her husband, raising her children amongst snakes, centipedes and saltwater crocs, riding in rodeos and […]
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The Wild Horse Race
Written by Toni Tapp Coutts The following is an extract from My Outback Life, the sequel to the bestselling A Sunburnt Childhood, this new book captures Toni’s time living the Gulf country of the NT, running a cattle station with her husband, raising her children amongst snakes, centipedes, and saltwater crocs, riding in rodeos and […]
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From Arg to Lake Nash
Host: Lake Nash Station Written by Lilly Marks – Station Hand, Argadargada Station. My name is Lilly Marks, I originally come from central Queensland but work in the Northern Territory on Lake Nash Station which is situated on the Barkly Tablelands. Our beloved plant horses after a long day’s work. I began my season at Argadargada […]
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Life in weaner camp
Host: Lake Nash Station Written by Indiana Latcham – Headstockman, Lake Nash Station. My name is Indiana Latcham and I am the head stockman of the weaner camp here at Lake Nash Station. Before weaner camp can spring into action, our stock camp need to do their thing – stock camp usually spends weeks at […]
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Finding the middle ground
Host: Aneka Collison & Hugh James Written by Hugh James – Ranger, GoGo Station. I returned to GoGo to do some more research on goannas over the wet of 14/15, and caught up with the Gooniyandi Rangers to talk about goannas and gain some insight on traditional hunting and harvest. The coordinator at the time […]
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Research to Ringer
Host: Aneka Collison & Hugh James Written by Hugh James – Ranger, GoGo Station. I ended my honours field work with the Fitzroy Crossing Rodeo! My first rodeo. Somehow the ringers on GoGo talked me into putting my name down for the novice bull ride. Given my extensive cattle experience (I believe I had petted […]
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The GoGo Goanna Man
Host: Aneka Collison & Hugh James Written by Hugh James – Ranger, GoGo Station. To an East coast boy the Kimberley has such an association with all things wild and untamed, from the long and isolated roads to the rough and rugged gorges hiding adventure and discovery. It was my fourth year at the University […]
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10 things I never thought I would do . . . until I moved to Fitzroy Crossing
Host: Aneka Collison & Hugh James Written by Aneka Collison – Speech Pathologist, Gogo Station. Live in Fitzroy Crossing If you had told me ten years ago, or even three years ago that I would end up living in Fitzroy Crossing, I firstly would have asked you ‘where is that?!’ and secondly, laughed. I had […]
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A Speech Patho..lo…what?!
Host: Aneka Collison & Hugh James Written by Aneka Collison – Speech Pathologist, Gogo Station. I am a speech pathologist, and I live on a cattle station in Fitzroy Crossing, WA. The two do not quite go hand in hand, but making it work is all the fun. I would love to say that I […]
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A job with a view
Host: Kimberley School of the Air Written by Cathie Bonner – Teacher, Kimberley School of the Air. I’ll always remember the day that I headed off to start my new teaching position in the North West of WA, it was Australia Day 2015. As I boarded that unappealing 5.55am flight from Perth to Derby, I […]
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Home visit experiences at KSOTA
Host: Kimberley School of the Air Written by Amanda Ogg – Year One and Two Teacher, Kimberley School of the Air. Throughout this website are stories of those living and working on cattle stations and in other remote areas, detailing how they’ve come from across Australia or from around the world to be in the […]
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The Principal’s Report
Host: Kimberley School of the Air Written by Paul Noble – Principal, Kimberley School of the Air. The Kimberley School of the Air has been associated with the Kimberley Pastoral Industry for over 50 years. Therefore it is really fitting, in my opinion, that it should take a turn as a host on Central Station. […]
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Eyes wide open
Host: Miss Hollywood I’m hosting as a ghost writer this week . . . coming from the sparkling lights of Hollywood to the remote West Australian outback after twenty years in the film biz, the last six living and working in LA. A far cry from phone reception, fast cars, five star restaurants, valet parking […]
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Rear window . . .
Host: Miss Hollywood I’m hosting as a ghost writer this week . . . coming from the sparkling lights of Hollywood to the remote West Australian outback after twenty years in the film biz, the last six living and working in LA. A far cry from phone reception, fast cars, five star restaurants, valet parking […]
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Working Five to Nine
Host: Miss Hollywood I’m hosting as a ghost writer this week . . . coming from the sparkling lights of Hollywood to the remote West Australian outback after twenty years in the film biz, the last six living and working in LA. A far cry from phone reception, fast cars, five star restaurants, valet parking […]
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Flight Club
Host: Miss Hollywood I’m hosting as a ghost writer this week . . . coming from the sparkling lights of Hollywood to the remote West Australian outback after twenty years in the film biz, the last six living and working in LA. A far cry from phone reception, fast cars, five star restaurants, valet parking […]
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Helicopter Hollywood to Mob Mustering
Host: Miss Hollywood I’m hosting as a ghost writer this week . . . coming from the sparkling lights of Hollywood to the remote West Australian outback after twenty years in the film biz, the last six living and working in LA. A far cry from phone reception, fast cars, five star restaurants, valet parking […]
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Saying goodbye to McAllister
The following is an excerpt from the book McAllister, written by Jenny Old. I allowed myself a few moments of contemplation. I had planted and ‘mowed’ my first patch of lawn with shears, now I looked out on a vast, lush, green lawn surrounding the homestead. I strolled under my first poincianna tree and subsequent […]
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A birth in the bush
The following is an excerpt from the book McAllister, written by Jenny Old. Sleep did not come easily that night. I was exhausted, the baby was very active and I ached all over. I lay awake feeling a million emotions, I was so far from my home, my family, and now I was going to […]
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The real bush telegraph
The following is an excerpt from the book McAllister, written by Jenny Old. I was getting married. I wrote long letters with my exciting news and counted the minutes until mail day brought replies. I had corresponded with both families and my friends weekly. Their letters were my lifeline. It is these letters which both […]
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Drop-loos and Donkeys
The following is an excerpt from the book McAllister, written by Jenny Old. I woke very early to the familiar sound of galahs and magpies. I rolled over and peered through the gauze wall of the shed. I was entranced by an incredible vista of rolling brown plains with waving grass. The soft pink of […]
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Arriving at McAllister
The following is an excerpt from the book McAllister, written by Jenny Old. We drove . . . and we drove . . . and we drove. Darkness enveloped us. I had an eerie sense we were the only people on the planet. The light from the headlights bobbing in front only showed a thin […]
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Ghosts of stockmen past
Host: Anthony Lagoon Station Written by Georgia Clark – AACo Graduate Program 2016. The tales of old run rampant in stockcamps around the country, with each one stretching further from the truth the more it’s told. From the good old days of rough mustering and bronc branding, to endless nights spent watching cattle as they […]
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Keeping up with the Clean Skins!
Host: Anthony Lagoon Station Written by Georgia Clark – AACo Graduate Program 2016. Coming from a small place property in NSW, branding is something I had never experienced and I definitely underestimated the scale and numbers they can work with on a cattle station. Branding has been one of my favourite activities whilst living and learning […]
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The water diviner
Host: Anthony Lagoon Station Written by Georgia Clark – AACo Graduate Program 2016. I was lucky enough to accompany our Bore Runner – Parrot – on his “southern run”. What a terrific way to see and learn so much about the property! The Bore Runner always knows what’s happening around the grounds, how his bores […]
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Training the weaners
Host: Anthony Lagoon Station Written by Georgia Clark – AACo Graduate Program 2016. I have spent the last few days mustering, drafting, trucking, and walking away young heifers. After mustering and drafting older cattle earlier in the year, working with these girls has been a dream! They are so calm, quiet, and walked on a […]
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Meet the Anthony Lagoon Team
Host: Anthony Lagoon Station Written by Georgia Clark – AACo Graduate Program 2016. As a rookie from NSW straight out of University, learning I was heading up to Anthony Lagoon Station in the NT sounded like an epic adventure and an amazing way to start my new role as a graduate with AACo. Little did […]
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Grass, Money, and Livestock
Host: Jim and Terry Lindsay Written by Anna Tickle. Highly functional cows at Landsborough. Maintaining long-term profitability in our business regardless of the seasons, commodity prices, or market direction is often easier said than done. While we haven’t yet mastered making it rain on command, there are aspects of your business that can be managed […]
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People that know = stock that flow
Host: Jim and Terry Lindsay Written by Anna Tickle. Stock being worked through the yards at an LSS School at Alice Springs. The interesting realm of Low Stress Stockhandling (LSS) can produce a mountain of monetary gain for the average livestock producer – and the proof is in the pudding, as you’ll read later. But […]
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The life of the Lindsays
Host: Jim and Terry Lindsay Written by Anna Tickle. This week’s blog hosts, Jim and Terry Lindsay. I begin my chat with Jim and Terry Lindsay in what is the customary way for people in the bush to greet each other. “It’s raining here, Jim,” I say. Then, referring to Hughenden in North West Queensland, […]
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The Bush Babe of OZ
Host: Wooroona Grazing Co. Written by Claire Dunne – Owner, Wooroona Grazing Co. The following is an (updated) article from the Graziher blog. Claire Dunne of Wooroona Grazing Co. created the Graziher blog before developing it into a magazine, which is available here. Mother of two, wife, beef producer and avid photographer; Amanda Salisbury sat […]
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Flying High
Host: Wooroona Grazing Co. Written by Claire Dunne – Owner, Wooroona Grazing Co. The following is an article from the Graziher blog. Claire Dunne of Wooroona Grazing Co. created the Graziher blog before developing it into a magazine, which is available here. Talia (Tay) Sheppard has a high flying job. She is the Chief Pilot […]
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What comes with the lifestyle . . .
Host: Wooroona Grazing Co. Written by Claire Dunne – Owner, Wooroona Grazing Co. I’ve worked across three different countries (Australia, Canada, and New Zealand) on sheep farms, cropping enterprises, dairy farms, flower farms and cattle operations, and I wanted to put together a few bits and pieces from people I’ve worked with – I call […]
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From little things, big things grow
Host: Wooroona Grazing Co. Written by Claire Dunne – Owner, Wooroona Grazing Co. “A snapshot of the life of an amateur magazine publisher” Another early morning start at the office. So if I told you that I recently launched a women’s magazine, from middle-of-nowhere Queensland, what would you think? Are you thinking scenes of Mcleod’s […]
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The run-down on Wooroona Grazing Co.
Host: Wooroona Grazing Co. Written by Claire Dunne – Owner, Wooroona Grazing Co. Naturally, cattle operations are run differently across the country depending on size of land, stocking rates, environmental factors, and the nature of the manager and owner. Here is the quickest overview for how we generally run things across the breeding and fattening […]
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An offer too good to refuse
Host: Eva Downs Station Written by Kathy Gabriel – Bore Runner, Eva Downs Station. I guess when I think back on last year, a few of the big highlights are things learnt. I really value learning, and lets face it, it’s a massive part of our lives! When you venture north or partake in any […]
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Tarrabool lake, our secret weapon
Host: Eva Downs Station Written by Kathy Gabriel – Bore Runner, Eva Downs Station. Eva cattle in a Holding paddock down on Tarrabool. Cattle – well, they are the reason we are here, aren’t they? Eva Downs runs a mixture of cattle from Brahmans to AACo’s own composite bred cattle. To go into it a […]
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The Eva team
Host: Eva Downs Station Written by Kathy Gabriel – Bore Runner, Eva Downs Station. So why Eva? What makes Eva special to us? Well like any station I seem to go to, I get attached to the place for many of different reasons: horses, land, people. Everything seems to factor in to make a station […]
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The who, what, where, and why of Eva Downs
Host: Eva Downs Station Written by Kathy Gabriel – Bore Runner, Eva Downs Station. Hello and welcome. This is Eva’s first time at hosting Central Station and we all find it rather exciting to be able to share with you all for one week what we as a station get up to, and also what we […]
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A Utopian Outback
Host: Lake Nash Station Written by Sarah Hughes – Manager, Lake Nash Station. Howdy Central Station followers, it’s a pleasure to connect with ya’ll! This is Sarah Hughes from Lake Nash Station on the Barkly Tableland, Northern Territory. My husband Fred and I have managed Lake Nash for almost 2.5 years and it is safe […]
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‘Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids’
Host: Lake Nash Station Written by Paul Jones – Bore Runner, Lake Nash Station. The light of day sneaks through the cracks and its 4:30am again. Time to pull on the boots and see what Cook’s got on. As usual, plenty of tucker – wonderful! Head over to the workshop to check the oil, water, […]
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The camp cook
Host: Lake Nash Station Written by Natasha Land – Camp Cook, Lake Nash Station. The mum, the wife, the doctor, the nurse, and the teacher are just a few different hats I wear on a daily basis in addition to being the camp cook at Lake Nash. The camp cook means I cook for the […]
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A timely reminder
Written by Steph Coombes – Editor, Central Station. As the editor of this website, I get to (ok, technically I have to) read every blog before it’s published; it’s like being the only person at the world premier of a movie every week. Every now and then I’ll send a blog on to my co-manager, […]
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5 Questions with Ihsan
Written by Ihsan – Student, 2014 Indonesia Australia Pastoral Industry Program. Editor’s Note: Ihsan is an Indonesian Student who visited Australia as a part of the 2014 Indonesia Australia Pastoral Industry Program. We asked him five questions about his experiences in the Indonesian and Australian cattle industry. The following is not a representation of the […]
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From Indonesia to the Outback
Written by Febrina Prameswari – Student, Bogor Agricultural University. Hi I’m Febrina Prameswari. I am 21 and I’m a student of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) majoring in Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology in the Faculty of Animal Science. Hopefully this is my last year in University so I can graduate and get a job in […]
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Friday Fun
Host: Riveren Station Written by Georgia Underwood – Manager, Riveren Station. Friday – Assembly day Friday is the children’s favourite school day – not because it’s the last day of the week, but because they have school assembly on IDL. They get to hear what has been happening in other classes during the week, what […]
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Another day, another muster
Host: Riveren Station Written by Georgia Underwood – Manager, Riveren Station. Another day, another muster, another bore to pull. Noses to the grind stone, another paddock mustered, early to start, early to bed, too hot and dry to do much else. We are half way through the round now after four weeks, Inverway finished and […]
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Hump Day
Host: Riveren Station Written by Georgia Underwood – Manager, Riveren Station. Middle of the week – the end is in sight! Another early start to the day, and another paddock mustered. This one took all day with the paddock being mustered to both ends at once. The cattle are all stacked at the yards ready […]
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Keep on trucking Tuesday
Host: Riveren Station Written by Georgia Underwood – Manager, Riveren Station. 5am breakfast, a long drive out to Champagne to muster. It was a long hot day and with little calves everywhere Mick wanted the cattle in the yards early. The muster went well and all the cattle were drafted before it got too hot […]
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A long hot week
Host: Riveren Station Written by Georgia Underwood – Manager, Riveren Station. Monday . . . a slow start to what is boding to be a long hot week: A few of the crew are a bit bleary eyed today following a weekend away socialising at a campdraft, so we’ve had a sleep in and moved […]
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Cows and technology in remote Australia
Guest Host: Sally Leigo Sally lives in Alice Springs and travels frequently around remote Australia leading a research project for the beef industry called the Precision Pastoral Management Tools Project. It is one of twelve research projects being undertaken by the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP). She is employed by both the […]
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What lies beneath? Using airborne technology to look underground
Guest Host: Richard George Dr Richard George is a Principal Research Scientist with the Department of Agriculture and Food WA, and leads major projects and water science areas. He and his small team have recently completed the land and water assessments that lay behind the approval of Ord Stage 2 and have other major projects […]
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Kimberley School of the Air
Guest Host: Judith Pritchett Judith Pritchett started with Kimberley School of The Air in 1996 teaching years 2 and 4 using the radio as the delivery platform. Judith has since taught across the school years specialising in the Information and Technology area. Currently, she is teaching Kindergarten as well as doing the IT role. The days […]
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Ramadan – From an Outsider Looking in
Host: Lisa Wood/ AGP Indonesia Written by Lisa Wood – Traceability Officer, AGP. As I am the resident Central Station host currently living in Indonesia, I was asked to write a piece about Ramadan and what it’s all about. I am more than happy to do this, for numerous reasons, last but not least being […]
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A Journey to Canberra
Written by Deti Inayatun – Student, 2013 Indonesia Australia Pastoral Industry Student Program. Edited by Libby Doney, Program Coordinator, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. Dreams do come true! I am on the plane heading back to Darwin after meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra yesterday, can you imagine? Okay, so this trip started when […]
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Station life so far for an Indonesian exchange student
Written by Irvan Prasetya – Student, 2013 Indonesia Australia Pastoral Industry Student Program. Edited by Libby Doney, Program Coordinator, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. When the birds are singing, when the wind is knocking on the door, when the dogs are barking, it is our call to wake and get prepared for work. We are working […]
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Indonesia Australia Pastoral Industry Program – what’s it all about?
Written by Libby Doney – Program Coordinator, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. Photos courtesy of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and Kerry Sharp. It’s the last day of April, and at 3.00am I blunder my way out to the car and drive through the deserted streets to collect my colleagues, Mick and Alward, from their hotel. […]
