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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What could a hitchhiker and a flying doctor have in common? Well, as it turns out, a lot – because in this case, they are one and the same people. Our guest today is Dr Gregory Winterflood – an esteemed doctor who began his medical career in Alice Springs. Even though he was born and […]
As a child, Jimmy McGlynn’s mother said he had “a lot of character”, but his aunt said he needed a flogging. He wasn’t a naughty kid though, just full of energy that couldn’t be contained within a classroom. So, even though he excelled at school, at the end of year 10 he headed up north […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Do you remember the old nursey rhyme from primary school that goes along the lines of “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage”. Well, that was the order of things for Hayley Price – in just over 12 months, she met and married the man of her dreams, falling […]
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 […]
Welcome to the Cattle Station Classroom In today’s lesson, we’re going to be learning about Personal Locator Beacons. It’s something we all hope we’ll never have to use, but unfortunately I do know a few people who have had to use theirs. But, what actually is the difference between a Personal Locator Beacon, and an […]
Written by Kate Fairfax – Margaret River Station, WA On a scale of one to ten, how dangerous is a chicken? I mean, compared to the feral bulls, snakes, crocodiles, wild cattle and dingoes that live in the Kimberley, I wouldn’t have thought chickens could be any worse than a 3… and it’d have to […]
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 […]
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 […]
Host: Kadaitcha Pastoral Company Written by Sam Chisholm – Owner, Kadaitcha Pastoral Company. As a helicopter mustering pilot working on cattle stations in Northern Australia you are constantly operating in a dangerous unpredictable environment with hot days, rough terrain, long hours, tough cattle, and wild weather. Aviation is inherently high risk and pilots are at the forefront […]
Host: Abingdon Downs Station Written by Renee Kohler – Station Hand, Abingdon Downs Station. Renee wrote another blog about her recent surgery on her leg. There are significant medical disadvantages of living remotely but our bush doctors and nurses are always wonderful and supportive. Editors note: This blog contains graphic images of a leg wound, which […]
Host: Southampton Written by Kylie Savidge – Owner, Southampton Station. Let me say that I never wish to go through this experience again and nor, do I think, my family want that to happen again either. It was my turn to get an emergency flight out on the CareFlight air ambulance. Very similar to the […]
Host: Fortescue Helicopters Written by Weldon Percy – Owner and Chief Pilot, Fortescue Helicopters. On the 29th of July 2015 the pastoral and helicopter industry alike lost an iconic figure. Mr Ross McDowell from Rossy Rotor Aviation, a fellow mustering pilot and company in the Pilbara, was reported missing and later found to have passed […]
Host: Southhampton Written by Kylie Savidge – Owner, Southampton Station. We are very lucky in our country to have the Royal Flying Doctor Service and luckier still to be able to call on them in times of need. One such time occurred in September 2014 when we were mustering in drought cows and calves, these […]
Host: Kalyeeda Station Written by Barb Camp – Owner, Kalyeeda Station. It is 6.04am and I am woken to the sound of my mobile buzzing into life next to my ear; “Hello, Barbara. We’ve been tasked. Would you like to come flying?” Well, ask a girl a silly question! Of course I do! In every […]
