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

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.

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