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 later. When she eventually left Yuendumu, it wasn’t to continue travelling—it was to move just 30 kilometres down the road to Mt Denison Station, where she still lives today. In that time, Di has seen it all—raising six kids, facing loss, navigating the challenges of succession, and building a strong, lasting relationship with the local Aboriginal community. Her story is one of resilience, connection, and a deep love for the place she calls home. To start things off, I asked Di how she ended up taking that first job in Yuendumu. Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:09:43
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 Pine Hill Station in 1968, at just 28 years old. Turning Pine Hill from a relatively undeveloped block into a functioning, profitable cattle station took years of hard work, resourcefulness, and creativity - all things Gil was never short of. His story is a true example of a young fella just having a crack at life, with plenty of adventures along the way. To start our conversation, I asked Gil, who was 85 at the time of this recording, the share his earliest memories from his childhood during World War 2. Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:46:01
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 cattle, managing the landscape, and making a life from it, there’s not much these two haven’t seen. Tony and Pam have had one heck of an adventure with plenty of ups and downs along the way, all the while fuelled by their deep connection to the land. Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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2:11:15
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 working in the region. Today, they’re widely respected for their high-quality Poll Hereford herd and forward-thinking approach to land management. While much has changed since Steve’s parents first arrived in the Territory, some things have stayed the same: they work hard, work smart, and always do what’s best for the land. To start our conversation, I asked Steve how his family came to own a cattle station in the heart of the outback. Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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2:04:59
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 in high demand, frequently flown to stations around the country to teach workshops and pass on his knowledge. He carries the wisdom and experience of a lifelong bushman—so you’d be forgiven for thinking he was born and raised on the land. However, as Col explains, his 40-year career—one that would ultimately see him recognized as an expert in his field—began unexpectedly, following a tumultuous and traumatic start to life. If anyone embodies the true meaning of resilience, it’s Col. And it was a true privilege to hear his story. **Trigger warning for sexual assault** Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About 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.
Australia