**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 Lochy and Jane McTaggart, who called Bidgemia Station home for over four decades.

​They say they’ve lived a big life — and they mean it.

Together they endured the challenges of life in the bush - the ones that were part and parcel of working in agriculture, like drought and death, and those they could never have seen coming - a catastrophic flood which almost destroyed everything they spent their lives working for.

​Throughout it all, Lochy and Jane have raised a family, built a community, and created a legacy that runs strong today.

To start our conversation, I asked Lochy to take me back to where it all began.

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.”

**This episode is part of a mini-series produced for the Gascoyne Catchment&rsquo;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 Lochy and Jane McTaggart, who called Bidgemia Station home for over four decades.
​They say they&rsquo;ve lived a big life &mdash; and they mean it.
Together they endured the challenges of life in the bush - the ones that were part and parcel of working in agriculture, like drought and death, and those they could never have seen coming - a catastrophic flood which almost destroyed everything they spent their lives working for.
​Throughout it all, Lochy and Jane have raised a family, built a community, and created a legacy that runs strong today.
To start our conversation, I asked Lochy to take me back to where it all began.
<hr>
Voices of the Gascoyne is a Gascoyne Catchments Group project, made possible through support from FRRR&rsquo;s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, funded by the Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund.&rdquo;

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.

Donate to the Show: https://www.centralstation.net.au/donate/

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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the simple wonder of living in an amazing landscape, but also the downside: the ravages of flood, fire and drought. And always there&rsquo;s the inherent danger of isolation &ndash; 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 &ndash; and why many wouldn&rsquo;t live anywhere else.
Donate to the Show: <a href="https://www.centralstation.net.au/product/donate/">https://www.centralstation.net.au/donate/</a>

Central Station - True Stories from Outback Australia

Jane & Lochy McTaggart - A big life at Bidgemia [Voices of the Gascoyne]

When Julia Foulkes-Taylor moved to Yuin Station, she wasn't just moving to a new home—she was stepping into a family with deep roots, a multi-generational pastoral business, and a way of life unlike anything she'd known before.

After studying costume construction, life on a  sheep station wasn't exactly the career path she'd imagined. In this episode, we talk about carving out her own identity in the pastoral industry, blending her passion for clothing construction with inspiration drawn from the landscape she now calls home, and how representing Australia at the Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women challenged her to think more deeply about a surprisingly simple question: what actually is a pastoralist?

It's a conversation about belonging, purpose, and the many different ways people contribute to life on the land.

This episode is proudly brought to you by the Shire of Murchison, in celebration of 2026 being the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

When Julia Foulkes-Taylor moved to Yuin Station, she wasn't just moving to a new home&mdash;she was stepping into a family with deep roots, a multi-generational pastoral business, and a way of life unlike anything she'd known before.
After studying costume construction, life on a&nbsp; sheep station wasn't exactly the career path she'd imagined. In this episode, we talk about carving out her own identity in the pastoral industry, blending her passion for clothing construction with inspiration drawn from the landscape she now calls home, and how representing Australia at the Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women challenged her to think more deeply about a surprisingly simple question: what actually is a pastoralist?
It's a conversation about belonging, purpose, and the many different ways people contribute to life on the land.
<hr>
This episode is proudly brought to you by the Shire of Murchison, in celebration of 2026 being the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

Julia Foulkes-Taylor - Finding her fit with Flax and Fleece

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.

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 &mdash; 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.&nbsp;
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 &mdash; quietly contributing to the backbone of Australia&rsquo;s pastoral industry. It&rsquo;s a story not of fanfare, but of grit, commitment, and deep knowledge earned the hard way.
<hr>
Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund.

John Hagan - Red Centre Reflections

This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners

The Hayes family is one of the most iconic and historic in the Northern Territory, and in this episode, we sit down with fourth-generation Territorian, Mickey Hayes.

Born and raised on Undoolya Station, Mickey grew up immersed in the rhythms of station life, following in the footsteps of generations before him. But unlike his father and brothers, Mickey’s journey would eventually lead him beyond the boundaries of the family property. While his bond with the land has remained steadfast, his journey has taken him across Australia and abroad, shaped by a spirit of curiosity, adventure, and taking life as it comes.

To begin our conversation, I invited Mickey to reflect on the early days of the Hayes family and share some of the stories that have helped define their remarkable legacy.

Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

This episode was recorded as part of a Centralian Land Management Association project - which they have kindly shared with our listeners
The Hayes family is one of the most iconic and historic in the Northern Territory, and in this episode, we sit down with fourth-generation Territorian, Mickey Hayes.
Born and raised on Undoolya Station, Mickey grew up immersed in the rhythms of station life, following in the footsteps of generations before him. But unlike his father and brothers, Mickey&rsquo;s journey would eventually lead him beyond the boundaries of the family property. While his bond with the land has remained steadfast, his journey has taken him across Australia and abroad, shaped by a spirit of curiosity, adventure, and taking life as it comes.
To begin our conversation, I invited Mickey to reflect on the early days of the Hayes family and share some of the stories that have helped define their remarkable legacy.
<hr>
Red Centre Reflections is a Centralian Land Management Association project, supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund.

Jane & Lochy McTaggart - A big life at Bidgemia [Voices of the Gascoyne]

Central Station - True Stories from Outback Australia

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