Central Station - True Stories from Outback Australia
True stories from the Australian Outback, told by the people who live them. Meet the men and women who live and work on some of Australia’s most remote cattle stations. There are tales of mustering, stock camps, working dogs, rogue cattle and hard bloody yakka, but also the fun of a bush wedding or kicking back at a rodeo. There’s the simple wonder of living in an amazing landscape, but also the downside: the ravages of flood, fire and drought. And always there’s the inherent danger of isolation – times when the Flying Doctor came to the rescue, but also times when lives have been tragically cut short. These compelling true-life stories show what outback life is really like – and why many wouldn’t live anywhere else.
Episodes
John Hagan - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners. In this episode, we hear from John Hagan — someone who knows the Territory not just by map, but by memory. Over the course of 87 years, John has witnessed the Territory change in ways few others can truly grasp. Raised on cattle stations in the VRD during
Mickey Hayes - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners The Hayes family is one of the most iconic and historic in the Northern Territory, and in this episode, we sit down with fourth-generation Territorian, Mickey Hayes. Born and raised on Undoolya Station, Mickey grew up immersed in the rhythms of station life, foll
Gaynor Cleary - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we speak with Gaynor Cleary. Gaynor first travelled to the Northern Territory in 1959 to visit distant relatives who owned Mt Riddock Station. Although the visit was brief, it left a lasting impression. A few years later, she returned to work on
Cameron Chalmers - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners The pioneering legacy of Charles and Cora Chalmers is well documented in the history books—but the story of the Chalmers family didn’t end there. In this episode, we hear from their grandson, Cameron Chalmers, who continues that legacy in his own rema
Di Martin - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we talk to Di Martin from Mt Denison Station. Di first came to the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in 1984 for what she thought would be a six-month teaching job. She never imagined she’d still be in the region more than 40 years la
Gil Bowman - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we hear the story of Gil Bowman. From as soon as he could walk, Gil was, as he says, always trying to “make a few bob”. With his strong work ethic and determination, and the few bob he had made along the way, he purchased
Tony and Pam Davis - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we hear from Tony and Pam Davis who’s journey of land ownership has taken them from Central Australia to Queensland, South Australia, the Top End, and finally back home right to where they started. With 6 decades of experience raising cattl
Steve and Bec Cadzow - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we chat with Steve and Bec Cadzow from Mt Riddock Station. The Cadzow family ventured into pastoralism more than 60 years ago with the purchase of a cattle station in the Northern Territory—despite having no prior experience living or worki
Col Stanton - Red Centre Reflections
This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners In this episode, we speak with Col Stanton, a highly respected figure across the outback for his intuitive understanding of diverse landscapes and his unrivaled ability to implement interventions that improve water infiltration and repair erosion damage. Col is i
Gary Prior - Red Centre Reflections
*This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners* In this episode, we hear from Gary Prior. Between Gary and his father Bill, the Prior family managed Hamilton Downs Station for 40 years. And as Gary says, moving to the station at the age of 6 was the best thing that ever happened to him. While he’s alwa
David Bird - Red Centre Reflections
*This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners* In this episode, we sit down with David Bird of Indiana Station, a fourth-generation pastoralist continuing his family’s legacy on the land in Central Australia. David shares insights into how the experiences and resilience of those who came before
Libby Gooch - Sink or Swim [Voices of the Gascoyne]
This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** n this episode we hear the incredible story of Libby Gooch. The year is 1972 and Libby is a young mother living on Manberry Station with her husband George and their 3 children. In a matter of months
Jos & Jenny Percy - From Wandina to Williambury [Voices of the Gascoyne]
**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** Jos Percy’s childhood on Yoothapina Station was cut short by drought and war. Instead of making mudcakes and mustering sheep, he changed schools 12 times in 3 years, as the threat of invasion
Chris & Tim D'Arcy - The Lyndon Legacy [Voices of the Gascoyne]
**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** In this episode, we speak to Tim and Chris D’Arcy from Lyndon Station. Tim D’Arcy’s childhood on Lyndon Station was full of adventure and freedom. Accompanied by friends and
Mick & Winsome Hearman - Treasured Memories from Middalya [Voices of the Gascoyne]
**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** n this episode, we speak to Mick and Winsome Hearman, whose family called Middayla Station home for 120 years. For four generations, the Hearmans poured their blood, sweat, and tears into the land,
Jane & Lochy McTaggart - A big life at Bidgemia [Voices of the Gascoyne]
**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** In this episode, we speak to Lochy and Jane McTaggart, who called Bidgemia Station home for over four decades. They say they’ve lived a big life — and they mean it. Together they endur
Margot Steadman - Sliding doors led me to Dalgety Downs - [Voices Of The Gascoyne]
**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment’s Group, who have kindly allowed me to share it with you. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.** In this episode, we speak to Margot Steadman. Upon finishing school, Margot had the ultimate “sliding doors moment” which led to a life she could never have imagined as a child. Raised
In loving memory of Peter Ritter [Repost of Episode 144]
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 trad
Garry Riggs (Part 4) - Mercenaries and mid-air emergencies
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 anothe
Garry Riggs (Part 3) - Blina and Calwynyardah adventures
Welcome back to our third episode with Garry Riggs from Lakefield Station in the Territory. In his first two episodes, Garry shared tales from his adventurous childhood, filled with close calls involving snakes, motorbikes, horses, motorcars, deadly fevers, UFOs, and even circus lions! In this episode, we pick up right where we left off—at Calwynyardah Station in the West Kimberley. True to form,
Munro Hardy (Part 4) - A licence to learn
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. B
Ashley Dowden - Triumph after tragedy [Repost]
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 pr
Pip Bain (Part 2) - Taking the long way around [Repost]
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
Pip Bain (Part 1) - Memories of my mother & Mt Clere Station [Repost]
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 tim
Nick Ormsby - Self made
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 bee
Paddy Heatley (Part 1) - A story like no other
Paddy Heatley had a fairly unconventional childhood. By the time he left home at the age of 9, he’d already dropped out of school – foregoing learning to read and write. At the age of 12, he was smuggling tobacco, alcohol and cattle from South to North Ireland. And, at the age of 16, with his mother’s signature forged, he climbed aboard a ship bound for Australia. In this episode, Paddy share’s ya
Tammy Kruckow - A hard lesson to learn
From the outside looking in, Tammy Kruckow was living her best life. She and her husband were managing a large cattle station for a corporate pastoral company – the perfect place to raise their three beautiful daughters. She had, as she puts it, "ticked all the boxes". But, behind closed doors, things weren’t all as they seemed. In this episode, Tammy shares her story of coming to the Territory a
Col Greenfield - Life inside the Woomera Prohibited Area, and outside the Dog Fence [Repost]
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 2021See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Felicity Brown - Tales from a 1990's stockcamp [Repost]
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 in
Wayne Bean (Part 3) - A change of career and time for horses
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 listener
Wayne Bean (Part 2) - The Heytesbury years
This episode is part 2 of our chat with Wayne Bean – if you haven’t listened to Part 1, you know the drill, go on, go back and listen to it first. In this episode Wayne recalls the 18 years he spent working for Heytesbury Pastoral, where he progressed from an overseer on the Barkly, to junior manager in the Victoria River District, and finally, his goal of senior manager in the Kimberley. Through
Wayne Bean (Part 1) - Just trying to get ahead
For the longest time, Wayne Bean just wanted to get ahead. To achieve his career goal of managing a cattle station, to have his own land, and the time to pursue his passion for horses. And, spoiler alert, he has, by all definitions, gotten ahead. After two decades of managing stations for Heytesbury Pastoral, these days he spends his time on his own property, breeding and training horses for the s
Willie Cook (Part 2) - Filming "Outback Ringer", and facing an uncertain future head on
This is Part 2 of our chat with Willie Cook. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, go back and listen to it first – trust me – you don’t want to listen to these episodes back to front – and yes, I know some of you do that… In this episode, Willie shares what it was really like being filmed for the tv series Outback Ringer, and what he thought about the final product. He also speaks candidly about the
Willie Cook (Part 1) - Catching Wild Bulls & Water Buffalo 101
Willie Cook is known for being the bull-catching, helicopter-flying Kiwi from the ABC tv series “Outback Ringer”. He first came on the podcast in 2022, when he shared the incredible story of how the 2008 Global Financial Crisis saw his family lose absolutely everything they had, resulting in moving to Australia for a fresh start. I caught up with Willie in late 2023, and we yarned for so long that
Toni Tapp Coutts - Bill Tapp, The Cattle King
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 even
Caroline Ashby - Training for Ironman Triathlons in the Outback
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 t
Toni Tapp Coutts - Shaped by the Territory
Born and raised in the Northern Territory, Toni Tapp Coutts has had a varied career, from working on cattle stations, to owning a variety store in Borroloola, a dress boutique in Katherine, being a Town Councillor, CEO, Author, and most recently becoming a Real Estate agent. Not to mention, she fought breast cancer and won. As you’ll hear in this episode, Toni is a strong, resilient, Territory wom
Connie Wood - When it's not "just a bump on the head"
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 recount
Hamish & Jodie McTaggart - The catastrophic Christmas flood of 2010 [Repost]
[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 relie
Garry Riggs (Part 2) - Snakes, Lions, and a UFO in the Kimberley
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
Garry Riggs (Part 1) - The adventures (and misadventures) of a bush kid
Station kids aren’t regular kids. What I mean, is that they are, more often than not, fiercely independent and impressively resourceful. And that is a recipe for adventure. Garry Riggs is no exception here. He spent his childhood on remote properties across Northern Australia, with the sort of freedom most of us would lament only occurred “back in the good old days”. He’s had his fair share of adv
Ned McCord - First aid for a lightning strike
When Ned McCord was a little boy, all he wanted to do was be among the stockmen working cattle. And for the most part, that was his reality, until his father experienced a serious and debilitating illness which saw the family separated, and Ned sent to a town school. He eventually made his way to the newly established Emerald Pastoral College in hopes of getting back on the land. Little did he kno
Tony Williams - Life, love and loss on the Oodnadatta Track [Repost]
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 pri
Aticia Grey - The road to Pilbara Working Dogs
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 s
Darrylin Gordon - The long road to Lamboo [Repost]
Lamboo Station is unlike any of the other cattle station’s we’ve spoken about on this podcast. Located just south of Halls Creek in the Kimberley region, Lamboo is owned by the Ngunjiwirri Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) on behalf of the Jaru people. The property was purchased in 1994 by the (then) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) through the WA Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) an
Stu Barker and Brett Otley - Working with feral animals
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 Territor
Danny Hayes (Part 2) - The luckiest man alive?
In our last episode, Danny Hayes shredd yarns from his childhood on cattle stations and some of the things he's learned from his 30 year career as a mustering pilot. In this episode, Danny recounts some of the hairy situations he's found himself in while flying - situations that only experience and nothing short of good luck has allowed him to be here and speak about them. I want to take a moment
Danny Hayes (Part 1) – Yarns from a long-time Chopper Pilot
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 Katherin
Rebecca Cadzow - The decision to downsize [Repost]
With two cattle stations in the Northern Territory, a cattle property in Queensland, and a helicopter business, Rebecca and Steven Cadzow were in the perfect position to continue expanding their business interests and develop a pastoral empire that so many dream of. But, instead they made the decision to downsize to just one cattle station. In this episode Rebecca discusses their decision, the con
Tracey Hayes - Adapting to change to thrive, not just survive
Tracey Hayes is best known for her role as the first female CEO of the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association. But, it was a role she never intended on holding - in fact, it wasn’t in her career plan at all. Born and bred on a cattle station in the far north of South Australia, staying on the land was all Tracey ever wanted to do. But, sometimes life throws curveballs and when that happens yo
Khory Hancock - No longer the "Environmental Cowboy"
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 d
Tips for station newbies (let's talk about sex) [Repost]
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 ad
Munro Hardy (Part 3) - Connecting the dots, looking back
Munro Hardy's pathway to his current career has not been straight forward. After a gap year around Australia saw him fall in love with agriculture (Episode 190, Part 1), he kept on that path, trying his hand at all he could (Episode 193, Part 2). But, at some point, Munro decided to step away from the cattle industry and try his hand at all sorts of jobs, including pearling, roadworks, mining, an
Munro Hardy (Part 2) - Live export, Contract mustering, and THAT Egypt story
As promised, here is part 2 of our chat with Munro Hardy. While he's only 35 years young, holy hatbox he has managed to fit a lot into a short space of time! In this episode he shares stories from his time working in live export, contract mustering, and a pretty hairy tale from a trip to Egypt... If you haven't listened to Part 1, go back and listen first!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in
[SNEAK PEEK] The time Munro Hardy kind of got kidnapped in Egypt...
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 omn
Gus and Kim McKay – Travelling 40,000 km to start a family
Starting a family is no longer as simple as meeting a partner and falling in love. I’m not sure if fertility challenges are becoming more common, or just more spoken about – but it certainly feels as though both are true. While stories about fertility challenges are becoming more common, no two are the same. In today’s episode, I sit down with Kim and Gus from Umbearra Station, 4 hours south of Al
Munro Hardy (Part 1) - A gap year to remember
Munro Hardy has been a busy man. At just 35 years old, Munro’s career has taken him from fencing croc-infested rivers in the Top End, to mustering cattle from a helicopter, to boardrooms in Sydney, and most recently around the world as a Nuffield Scholar. It took a bit of convincing, but we managed to wrangle Munro to sit down and share his story. In this episode, he tells tales from the gap year
Nathan Dyer - The assignment? Adventure!
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 experien
Annabelle Coppin - Bringing her Paddock to Plate dream to life
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, bu
Fostering Indigenous children in the outback
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
Matt and Connie Wood - Their first year at Wave Hill Station
When Wave Hill Station was sold in a $104 million dollar deal, Jumbuck Pastoral and its consortium of partners became the 4th ever owner of the iconic station in its 140 year history. It was a sale that said “watch this space”. In this episode, we sit down with Matt and Connie Wood, who we last heard from in episode 123, as they prepared to leave their job as managers at Blina Station in the Kimbe
Natalie Bell & Jess Di Pasquale - The Mongol Derby that didn't go to plan
The adventure of a lifetime, two best mates, riding side by side in the wild landscape of Mongolia. When Jess and Nat entered the world’s toughest horse race, they knew it would be hard. Finishing the race itself was as big a deal as winning. But, these women were from the Northern Territory - they’d spent their lives working in rugged conditions in remote areas. Surely, they’d be fine? In this ep
Shane "Lochy" O'Loughlin - How the Kimberley turned a boy into a man
Shane “Lochy” O’Loughlin arrived in the Kimberley at the age of 16. He’d already left both home and school at the age of 12, and now he had something to prove. However, Lochy’s start in the Kimberley was anything but smooth sailing. Over the past 40 years, Lochy has lived a life full of adventure and learning. There’s not many places in the Kimberley he hasn’t set foot on, either as a stockman
Chico Shaw - From an orphanage in Brazil to Bondi Beach and the Outback (Part 2)
This episode is Part 2 of our chat with Chico Shaw. If you haven't listened to Part 1, stop now and go back. In Part 1, Chico shared the story of his adoption from Brazil into a family from Bondi Beach, and how he ended up working on a cattle station in the Gulf of Queensland. In this episode, Chico shares stories from his time working in the Northern Territory, why he left the industry for al
Chico Shaw - From an orphanage in Brazil to Bondi Beach and the Outback (Part 1)
In 1987 a mechanic found a baby boy abandoned on the streets in Brazil. Today, that baby boy is a grown man living and working on a cattle station in the Northern Territory, Australia. “Blessed”, is how Chico Shaw describes his life. A life that could have turned out so differently. In this episode Chico shares the story of his adoption into a family from Bondi beach, how he ended up worki
Claudia Hiscox - Managing my mental health in the middle of nowhere
This episode contains discussions about anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm. It may be best to listen in the support of company, or skip this episode. If you need help, a range of services are available. Please see the show notes for more details. Claudia Hiscox has spent the last three years living and working on cattle stations in remote parts of the Northern Territory. The day
Ian 'Rocky' Rockwell and Rob Mann - The trip that changed our lives
In 2002, Ian ‘Rocky’ Rockwell took a group of year 11 students from Sydney to Alice Springs for an “adventure”. The kids were to trek the Larapinta Trail, ride camels, cook on campfires, and experience the “outback”.That trip changed not only the trajectory of Rocky’s life, but some of the students as well. Rob Mann was one of those students.In this episode, Rocky and Rob share the story about the
Olivia Thompson - The kickboxing, cattle station selling, cowgirl who learnt to walk again
In 2022, Olivia Thompson sold 3 cattle stations in the Northern Territory. Those 3 properties exceeded 1 million hectares combined. It’s a world away from the 1000m2 block of land that was her first sale as a real estate agent some 20 years ago in the coastal town of Cairns. Olivia is a prime example of the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by it's cover”. Beyond her beautiful smile and polished l
Haydn Sale - Opportunity knocks but once [Repost]
Haydn Sale manages one the largest aggregations of cattle and land in northern Australia – but chances are, you’ve never heard of him. Unlike others in his position, Haydn wasn’t born into the northern cattle industry. Nor did he do a gap year up north straight out of boarding school for one of the big corporates. He also wasn’t a General Manager or CEO of some other company in some other indus
Anika Molesworth - Electric cars in the outback, and cultivating climate courage
Anika Molesworth is a farmer, scientist, and storyteller. And she's on a mission to cultivate climate courage. In an incredibly short period of time, Anika has amassed a number of accolades including: Young Farmer of the Year, Young Australian of the Year finalist, and a Masters and PhD. She has also released a best-selling book, 'Our sunburnt country', and co-founded the Farmers for Climate Act
Tom & Annabel Curtain - Turning the hard times into adventures
Golden-guitar winning Tom Curtain and his incredible wife and business partner, Annabel, were our guests on the very first episode of this podcast way back in June 2019. Way back when I had never recorded a podcast, and didn’t know what sound quality was.So, last night I sat down with Tom and Annabel for take two.My plan was to rerecord just our first episode in better sound quality, but plans cha
Ashley Dowden - A stickybeak into Challa Station
Back in episodes 150, 151 and 156, we heard the stories of Debbie and Ashley Dowden from Challa Station in the southern rangelands of WA.Now, two of those episodes were recorded with Debbie, and Ashley only recorded one... or did he?For those of you who don't know, we actually have two podcast series. Central Station, the one you're listening to right now, and the other one is called Cattle Statio
Tourists do the darnedest things [Best Of]
TouristsWhere do I begin? Tourists are part and parcel of life in the outback. And, while some are worth their weight in gold, others make life just that little bit harder...In this [best of] episode, I’ve pulled together a few yarns about tourists from previous episodes. And to any tourists listening... we do love you... sort of… but please, plan ahead, have back ups of e
Robbie Schmidt - The people and places who have shaped my life
Robbie Schmidt is a self-confessed ratbag. The Alice Springs identity spent his formative years traveling between large properties in South Australia and the Northern Territory, so it’s not surprising that he ended up working as a station manager.But, then Robbie and his partner chose to step away from working in agriculture for 5 long years. In this episode, Robbie shares yarns ab
Renee McBryde - Working in Child Protection to break the cycle
So often, stories about outback Australia revolve around people working on the land. But, not everyone who lives in the outback wears a big hat and cowboy boots.Renee McBryde lives in Alice Springs, Australia’s red centre.It’s a world away from the housing commission in Sydney where she spent her childhood.Renee’s story is unlike any we have ever come across. At the age of 6 she learnt that h
Willie Cook - Before 'Outback Ringer' (Part 2)
Everything in Willie Cook’s life was going to plan – he’d met the love of his life, he split his time between flying helicopters and working on his family’s station in the high country of New Zealand, and together with his partner and parents, he’d branched out into his own lease country.And then it all came crashing down.In this episode, Willie shares the story of how the Global Financial Crisis
Willie Cook - Before 'Outback Ringer' (Part 1)
Willie Cook is known as the bull-catching, helicopter-flying Kiwi from the ABC tv series “Outback Ringer”. I caught up with Willie at his home in the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory to hear the incredible story of how he and his young family came to be in Australia. However, that story is coming next week. Today, I’m sharing the very beginning of our chat, where Willie told me abou
Nikita Morris - In real life
Nikita Morris doesn’t like being called an influencer. But there are tens of thousands of people who avidly follow her every move on social media - captivated by her candid stories about station life and her stunning good looks. But she’s so much more than a pretty face. In this episode, Nikita opens up about love of history, tradition and growing up on ‘Undoolya Station’ - the Northern Terri
Jane & Haydn Sale - Facing your own mortality [Repost]
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.
Walmajarrie Jimmy - Recited by Dr Dave Morrell [Poem]
Dave Morrell is a Kimberley icon. In addition to being a brilliant veterinarian, Dave is a brilliant bush poet. He recently released his first, and long awaited book, titled Johnny James and other verses. In this short episode he recites the poem "Walmajarrie Jimmy". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
