Early in August, I had the absolute pleasure of joining His Honour the Administrator, Hugh Heggie AO PSM, and Ms. Ruth Jones on an unforgettable cattle station tour through the heart of Central Australia. Our journey began at Undoolya Station, where Ben Hayes captivated us with tales of the Hayes family’s generations-long care of Undoolya. And let’s not forget the scones and banana bread, if Nicole ever decided to enter them in a show, they’d be instant winners! A drive through the station showcased its breathtaking biodiversity, a true testament to the hard work and love of the Hayes family since 1906.
Next up, we travelled to Bond Springs, where we were immersed in decades of rich history, lovingly preserved by Jan Heaslip. Ben and Laura shared their vision for blending the old with the new, maintaining the history of their property while embracing modern technologies to steer them into the future. And, oh, the roast beef lunch which was so good we almost rolled out of there!
The following day took us to Yambah Station, where we explored the newly upgraded yard setup that Dan and Sally have put so much thought into. We were excited to learn how they use technology and data to drive efficiency. As we soaked up stories of the past, we enjoyed steak sandwiches fresh off the hot plate by the river, surrounded by the magnificent Grove bloodline Shorthorns that the Gorey family poured so many years into.
We wrapped up our tour at the remote but breathtaking Elkedra Station with the Driver family. A scenic drive led us to a lookout with views that stretched over the vast expanse of land the Drivers have so passionately stewarded over the years. Lunch with the crew in the station kitchen had that home-away-from-home warmth, and we even took a fun detour to check out their water-skiing spot! It was truly an honour to spend this remarkable week with His Honour and Ms. Jones. I couldn’t be prouder to have had the opportunity to showcase our incredible industry and the wonderful people who are its heart and soul.
Jessie Daniels – Business Development Manager
