Central Station - True Stories from Outback Australia

In 1929, the Foulkes-Taylor family purchased Yuin Station in Western Australia's Southern Murchison. Nearly a century later, the property remains in family hands—a remarkable achievement in an industry where the only constant has been change. Over almost 100 years, Yuin has weathered droughts, floods, wild dogs, government policy and shifting markets. The family has adapted from wool to meat sheep, embraced new technologies that transformed everything from communication to mustering, and continually evolved the way they care for both livestock and the landscape. Pastoralism today looks vastly different to what it did when the Foulkes-Taylors first arrived. In this episode, Rossco Foulkes-Taylor reflects on the generations who came before him, sharing family stories and m emories that have been passed down through the decades. We also explore the challenges and decisions that have shaped more recent years, the lessons learned from nearly a century on the land, and what the future might hold for both Yuin Station and the next generation of the Foulkes-Taylor family. This episode is proudly brought to you by the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists West Australian committee, in partnership with the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance, and Regional Development Australia Midwest and Gascoyne. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Addressing the United Nations about women in pastoralism is a long way from day-to-day life on a station in the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia. But that’s exactly where Debbie Dowden has found herself — one of three women from around the world invited to take the stage in Mongolia and share her perspective on pastoralism. We first heard from Debbie on the podcast back in 2022. Since then, Debbie and her husband have made the difficult decision to sell Challa Station, bringing more than 130 years of family ownership to an end. But leaving the station hasn’t meant leaving pastoralism behind. In this episode, we talk about Debbie’s involvement in the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, what’s happened with wild dogs since we last spoke, and the book she’s written about her experiences on the land. This episode is proudly brought to you by the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists West Australian committee, in partnership with the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance, and Regional Development Australia Midwest and Gascoyne.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is proudly brought to you by the Shire of Murchison, in celebration of 2026 being the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Meg Officer's journey from Scotland to the Murchison was only ever meant to be temporary. Instead, she found a life, a family and a place that would shape the next 35 years. In this episode we talk about life on Woolgorong Station and why her connection to the region has endured long after she left.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 World War II, he came of age in a time when cattle were still walked thousands of kilometres to market.  He travelled vast distances across the Territory, Queensland and South Australia as a drover, working first for Peter Sherwin, before later going out on his own. At just 27 years of age, John stepped into the role of manager at Brunchilly Station, where he spent the next 26 years quietly transforming it into a benchmark operation on the Barkly. John has spent his life on horseback, in stock camps, and behind the scenes — quietly contributing to the backbone of Australia’s pastoral industry. It’s a story not of fanfare, but of grit, commitment, and deep knowledge earned the hard way. 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.

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 the station, where she met her future husband, Tom — a part-Aboriginal stockman. Over the next 50 years, Gaynor and Tom worked on several stations in the district. They raised a family, adapted to changes in communication, infrastructure, and the workforce, and even lived through the murder of one of their employers. They worked hard and stayed committed to their dream of one day managing a station — a goal Tom achieved at the age of 60. It’s a story of steady dedication and a life deeply rooted in the Territory. To start our conversation, I asked Gaynor to tell me about that first visit to Mt Riddock Station. 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.

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.

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.

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.

*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 him have shaped his outlook and approach to station life.  Our conversation explores his deep understanding of the landscape, his grounded, pragmatic response to the highs and lows brought about by Mother Nature, and what it takes to make it in the bush.   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.

**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 dictated his father’s postings in the army. After the war, the Percy family found their way to Wandina Station in the southern Rangelands - initially as managers, then as owners. It didnt take long for Jos to adapt to station life again, as he worked on properties around the country before coming home as manager. It was during this time he met his future bride, Jenny, and together they embarked upon the management of Williambury Station in the Gascoyne for the next 30 years, before achieving their goal of purchasing the property. At the time of this recording, Jos and Jenny were ages 89 and 82. To start our conversation, I asked Jos to tell me about his earliest memories. Voices of the Gascoyne is a Gascoyne Catchments Group project, made possible through support from FRRR’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**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, building a thriving sheep station and enduring the highs and lows of life in the bush. ​They’ve seen it all—from facing the devastation caused by fires, cyclones, and droughts, to the introduction of aerial mustering and motorbikes. In fact - Mick played a key role in the design off the first off-road motorbike developed for mustering in Australia. In this episode, Mick recalls the golden age of pastoralism, a time when the wool industry flourished and the outback was alive with opportunity. But he also shares the heartbreak of the wool market crash that changed everything. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got a love story woven into this incredible journey—a testament to resilience, partnership, and the unbreakable bond between two people who’ve weathered it all. It was an absolute privilege to sit down with Mick and Winesome, who at the time of this recording, were both 89 years young. So, let’s dive into the lives and legacy of the Hearmans. Voices of the Gascoyne is a Gascoyne Catchments Group project, made possible through support from FRRR’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**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 suburban Perth, she helped a friend apply for a Governess position on Landor Station in the Gascoyne, and thought nothing more of it. When her friend backed out of the interview on the day due to nerves, Margot stepped in so the employers wouldn’t be stood up. And then, she got the job she’d never intended to apply for. Margot ended up falling in love with the boy next door on Dalgety Downs Station, where they would spend two decades managing, then owning the property, and raising their children, before moving to Wooramel Station on the coast for another two decades. From fixing windmills to mustering sheep, cattle and goats, dealing with death (both human and animal), to droughts and floods - with a healthy dose of laughter and good times in amongst it all, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or done. Margot’s story is incredible, and a shining example of how you never know where life will take you, and that you don’t know what you’re capable of until you try. To start our conversation, I asked Margot to share the story of that fateful moment that led her to Landor Station. Voices of the Gascoyne is a Gascoyne Catchments Group project, made possible through support from FRRR’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.