Hard people for a hard land: outback station to national park | Wide Open Spaces #1 | ABC Australia
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Narriearra Station sprawls across 150,000 hectares in a remote part of Australia. After more than a century of being used to farm sheep and cattle by the O'Connor family, they have sold it to become a national park rich in flora and fauna and Indigenous and pastoral history. But not before they witnessed cycles of flood and drought, and a horrific accident that claimed a man's leg. Landline's Tim Lee reports.
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Пікірлер: 92
Instead of given an Australian medal to some sport or actor why not give an award to this guy All his knowledge
Bill is a true frontier Australian . His emotions when talking about his heads of stock . He has a mercy in his voice when he talks about the harshness of the Australian outback and what it does to both beast and man . He is a servant and custodian of not just the land out there but his families incredible achievements . This man deserves to be recognised somewhere or at least his family .
I live in world most crowded island in the world. Wide open space always fascinate me. What a beautiful place Australia is. Thanks for sharing this video.
The interesting issue is that sometimes keeping it in private ownership is the reason it was preserved so let us hope the state can be trusted for the next 100 years.
@johnhudson6742
2 жыл бұрын
history farming stations mining ballarat vic important
@EmmaAppleBerry
2 жыл бұрын
Itll be sold for mining or timber no doubt.
@reddo84
2 ай бұрын
100% right.
Why are people like him not recognized and celebrated on Australia day?
@terryirons1966
3 жыл бұрын
Bill .... the present day ' liberal state and federal ' governments see ecological destruction for coal , gas , fracking etc .... for their mates ...... Australia does not count ,,,,, SADLY .
@johngeddes5918
3 жыл бұрын
@@terryirons1966 ...for their bosses Terry... for their bosses......
Great story and history to be shared around, thanks Bill, National Parks and Land Line
Thankyou for making it a national park.
@trickster8635
Жыл бұрын
I thought it was a State Park?
Wow, great story and what a legacy!
It’s up to the people of Australia to keep this mans legacy of a National Park.
OH WOW...... am praying it DOES end up as a real National Park and preserved - eg NO mining etc on it!! Am looking forward to traveling out into that area soon.
Thank you for making that video.
Full credit to parks and wildlife for buying this parcel of land with its eco systems and native wildlife. It will be a great boost for the local ecosystems. I'm sure everyone will understand the price increases in locally grown food cause this land now can't be used
Bravo should happen more often great to see the owner and parks recognize the true value....
What a beautiful piece of land
Great story. Legend is a word that gets bandied about too much, but Bill fits that bill. Hats off to him and his family for not overstocking the place and taking some kind of care of it. Good luck Bill. Kudos for NSW government for buying it and turning it in to National Park. There is so much other land that needs this too.
Awesome this a great story absolutely brilliant !!!
Great story. Im glad chinese investors didn't get anywhere near this huge property.
@johngeddes5918
3 жыл бұрын
Watch that space....
@SigrunHT
3 жыл бұрын
Now that it's run by the government they'll be able to. The government's already sold Australia out from under us.
Bill is cool - not much formal education but a true environmentalist. Now, at 85 he sells his 1300 km2 property to retire on 800 km2 - this is Australia 😂👍
What a legend.
I'd never want too live there , but it has it's beauty
Great story - thanks for sharing!
Legends… i met similar people when i became superintendent of Normanton Base Hospital in 1981/2. Channel county.
Deserves recognition for the wonderful gift he has given to Australia - and Congratulations NSW Parks & Wildlife for saving his amazing property for all Australian now and future and for our diverse and unique flora and fauna and birdlife from all surrounding areas and Countrys. WELL DONE ALL .
@xwhite2020
3 жыл бұрын
He sold it didn't he? No gift.
thank you for share true beauty Australia bush
Amazing man, especially for an 85 year old.
Love this vast area
Very good land and very good story 🙏👋🍻from Buckland west Australia
Interesting report about outback Australia's unpredictable weather......
Should vote him for aussie of the year
Beautiful
Historically Australia was run as if it were England. Farmers cut down trees to make room for grass for the cattle and sheep. All its done is create a difficult environment for all types of animals.
@ivanolsen7966
Жыл бұрын
and without the ' solar ovens ' of today ......
@johnconnor7131
3 ай бұрын
Cant crop a paddock with trees everywhere
Thanku i really enjoyed the
Great stuff next the murry river and any land that has an impact on the great artesian basin
Should have given it to the AWC Australian Wildlife conservancy. The NSW government is public? What a joke, they are a private corporation, posing as government.🤦♂️
They don’t make them any tougher than Bill. What a stormy, that’s what kids in school should be learning
That water will disappear in no time going by the NSW Govt track record with water management out west.
Good stuff
The family was going to move to Australia back in the day to work but my Dad passed away at 49 so never happened sadly. Wish i could go now as the uk is up sh## creak
A paradise of oasis in the arid outback
What an incredible man! PlayStation soy boys take note haha
Thanks you for giving this beautiful land back to nature, Australia is one of the few places that still has vast wilderness. Yet a lot has already been lost, it makes my heart happy to see projects and people like this. I hope to see aboriginal people also one day return to their ancestrial lands or at least have the oportunity to do so.
A fantastic thing to do for future generations ... A New Zealander salutes your Government
Not many like him left.
Government should spend some more money on hi bio expensive properties as well its not the amount of land that counts. Farming is a business. Location, location, location,..
how r u going Anne ? I hope old Jim is doing well
Crown lease?? I really want to buy a land like such and live in it.... I love rural.
85 ...and bought another property ...... why am I of two minds about that
Throw some dung beetles into the mix to reduce the flies
Wow
Yay
yeh, great prospecting site, now for everyone to use
2:40 that hole looks a bit like an outline of Africa.
Hi class
After selling this place Bill should buy a country pub and kick back and enjoy himself for the years of hard work.🍺
I tell you the real history in 200 years thay destroyed the land
Well national parks, if you do truly feel lucky and consider it a privilege to be custodians of this land. Show us, who pay your wages, (the public) by not erecting locked gates all over the place. Actually building campgrounds and let the hunters in to care for the place in their way.
These people spend govt (tax payer) money and believe every decision they make is so incredibly important because they're caught up in it, they can't separate themselves and their career progression from the task at hand. Ultimately this will be primarily a taxpayer-funded distraction for a bunch of ecologists, biologists, etc... That's the reality and is what will drive National Parks to seek more and more financial compensation from other means to fund these distractions such as big increases in fines, camping fees, government handouts etc all of which will be paid for by tax payers.. They'll claim until they're blue in the face that its all for our benefit etc, however, the truth is that this is nothing more than a new justification for spending money they didn't have to earn and they don't care because they have no personal financial cost on the line if this property had been split up and sold to profitable farmers the government could have just enforced a cooperation agreement to manage the threatened species as they do elsewhere. A very poor financial decision by a govt so far in debt its hard to believe... People seem to put those with a scientific degree on a pedestal as if they're pure of intention and have no alternative agenda which is laughable.. If you want to find the most deceptive and cunning people look in the industries that get a free pass like medicine, science, etc.
Use desalination Plants For FARMERS, can lay pipes at will anywhere else the gov wishes. so where is the water from the desalination plants going?. How much is it costing?. AND WHY IS IT NOT NOW BEING USED FOR OUR FARMERS, WE NEED IT , AND IT WILL SUPPLY JOBS, AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE OUR OWN MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES BACK. WE HAVE THE TALENT RIGHT HERE TO DO ALL. IF THE GOVER/MEANT PLEASES. BUT I'VE HAD THIS QUESTION FROM THE START. iS THIS WATER GOING TOWARD FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, CHINESE COTTON FIELDS, FOOD, ETC!. Big Question and about time this happens. our Farmers need water so as our country strives, not turns into a giant dust bowl. this couls also enable a draining pipe to remove water back to the ocean or out. OR IS IT JUST TO BLOODY EASY, NO INTEREST MAYBE?. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DISCUSSION ON THIS WITH OUR FARMERS.
Was any move made to return the land to its traditional owners?
Almost no wild life why?
@MarkgarrettGarrett-gt2hc
11 ай бұрын
Heaps just can't see it
he needed to have planted some trees 50 years ago
@jxmai7687
3 жыл бұрын
not that simply, the weather condition don't let it happen, the hot air could force the tree suck out all the under ground water. plant a tree is easy, keep it growing is a different story. i think many people already tried it.
@paddy696
3 жыл бұрын
Regenerative happenings in Middle east Al Bayjhara name not quite correct. Its on U tube they built local rock laying around into small rock walls to slow the run off when rains come, planted trees hardy grasses. Worked great made great difference!
@bg588
2 жыл бұрын
No….this country was not timbered and did not have trees pulled for farming.
Until fracking gets it. TEARS
day of filming 43cel and we winge if 35cel - bill saved his own life using fencing wire tuff old bugga dry nothing doing country never could work out what cattle & sheep ate there Maybe sand wedges Bill i,m in SA if you ever need a hand 1970s age16 drove 2,500 head sheep on horseback :) i hate sheep they like holes in fences
So the owner did a good job of stewardship, and now the government will now destroy it.
Great story! Am starting to feel resigned to hearing stories about non-stop exploitation and destruction of our precious natural heritage. Good to see that sense can prevail in some places at least.
Budjiti people still refugees. in Australia Aboriginal culture heritage being destroyed and now they are calling their dad's old tractor history Aboriginal have the oldest history they don't say one word about it 😔
Here we go again the national parks get a new park destock it and next thing you know it’s covered in weeds and feral vermin we need less national parks .More cattle stations
That's the only way his going to get money for the lands, that lands is worthless.
Bill is very lucky to be left everything he has. Yeh he has worked hard! but that country was never meant to be grazing country. And when shit goes to shit in times of drought. These wealthy families that were left everything from their forefathers. Are the first to have a bitch about tough times! then look toward Gov handouts and assistance to get them out of the shit! Notice though, he is happily driving around in a fully optioned $150,000 + land cruiser....?
What depressing country
This is a joke
Yeah well ...tax dollars have yet another bottomless pit for the battler to be enslaved.
@xwhite2020
3 жыл бұрын
poverty mindset will only bring poverty.
Fake crying before he shoots them animals.
It’s fantastic that he sold it for public use 👍🏽 Let’s hope the government don’t allow mining on it