RETURN TO WOOLEEN Monday, April 27 at 8pm on ABC1
Frances and David
A lot has happened since Australian Story delivered an epic tale of a young couple whose drastic measures to save Wooleen Station in the Murchison ranges of West Australia captivated our audience on March 5. David Pollock was controversially chosen, ahead of his older brother, when their father was deciding who should take over the family’s pastoral lease. The younger Pollock removed all stock as part of a radical plan to restore a beloved landscape.
Originally the size of a small town, Wooleen station had fallen on hard times as over-grazing and drought decimated the landscape. Pollock may have failed in his quest if not for the arrival of young Frances Jones from Melbourne, one hot summer’s day.
Since Half a Million Acres aired, the couple’s battle to save their property has attracted powerful supporters and a visit by natural landscape ecologist, Peter Andrews who has previously featured on Australian Story to considerable acclaim.
Andrews’ visit to Wooleen was sponsored by the Mulloon Institute, a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation, founded by Tony Coote AM. The Institute, which aims to foster sustainable agricultural practices, subsequently sponsored Pollock and Jones to visit New South Wales to witness Andrews’ transformative work on Coote’s Mulloon Creek Natural Farms.
Peter Andrews suggests that people of Pollock’s capability be paid an environmental service for landscape restoration, having made the extreme sacrifice of income as a result of destocking.
“It’s a mess that he didn’t make” says Andrews. “It’s a mess that exists. So why isn’t he being paid? He knows how to manage it. Pay him to fix the damn thing.”
“David and Frances are like the young pioneers that developed this country in the first place. These people need to be supported … I’m putting that challenge to the government in Western Australia and the federal government, to take on this task in a proper way,” says Coote.
“I suppose Dave and I just keep on going because we think about our future, for us we’re still quite young and we think if we don’t take the time now to make a difference for the future, that we mightn’t be at Wooleen in ten years’ time,” says Frances Jones.
Producer: Wendy Page
Text supplied by Austraian Story ABC
10 Comments
10 Comments
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on April 30, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Frances… David
It was great to watch tonights episode of Australian Story featuring your beautiful property and to see your progress. We had the joy and privilage of spending some valuable time with Tony, Toni and Peter Andrews at Mulloon Creek (as it was then)when he was first starting the transition of their creek. It was a pleasure to be invited to share in that process and a delight to see their results in such a short time. I wish you well in your vision for a sustainable outcome for Wooleen and will be watching and wanting to do more for you.
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on April 30, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Just finished watching the second episode of the Wooleen recovery. Makes me more than ever want to get back over there again – it’s been 37 years since I last was at Wooleen.
Good luck to you both
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on April 30, 2012 at 8:22 pm
i just saw this program and although i don’t watch much television, i also saw the other program about you and the one about peter andrews and his amazing regeneration of his property.(ages ago)
i have spent many years coming and going from kalbarri, so i know the beauty of the land over there.
i’m an artist and have done murals in kalbarri, on the iga supermarket, in kalbarri cafe and many homes.
i think what you are doing is really brave and wonderful. i am hoping to be able to visit when i head back to the west, in a few months time.
wishing you all the best with your venture, faye
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on April 30, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Hi, just watched the ‘Return to Woolleen’ show on Australian Story. I add my voice to the many who applaud your efforts. My family and I hope to come and visit your station and possibly lend a hand, later on this year.
An idea! What about the Men of the Trees high school and metro community group tree raising and planting programmes? I participated in one for three years and we planted out on two properties. All students involved valued their rural experience which opened their eyes to a different lifestyle and how food is produced.
Regards,
Jacinta
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on April 30, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Please forward on my contact details as I would be interested in assisting with Dave and Frances’ endeavour with planning and on ground works after having just started a landscape restoration at Buxton in Victoria with Peter Andrews.
Please call me on 0407 111 332.
Regards
Adrian
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on April 30, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Are you aware of WWOOF, Willing Workers on Organic Farms.
It is international & is made up of travelers who want to see the world & work for their keep & no pay. http://www.wwoof.com.au.
It will help if you need labour.
I loved your story.
My daughter is Donna who you may have met at Mulloon Creek.
Edna from Perth.
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on May 4, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Following the Australian Story program I wondered why the WA billionaires aren’t leaping forward to fund the restoration of properties like Wooleen? Talk about a carbon credit program that everyone can agree on! Have you approached the Rineharts and the Forrests? I seriously think you should. Since you are graziers and not hippies they will have no reason to be afraid of you. Since you want to restore the ground to fertility and profitability they can’t argue that you want to lock it up and sequester it for all time. It would be fabulous image-restoring publicity for them. I am a media and PR consultant — please feel free to contact me if I can help you further.
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on May 9, 2012 at 9:01 pm
It would be nice to see support for projects like yours from the state government “Royalties for Regions” program. While they would probably argue that their funding is for public projects rather than private ventures, maintaining healthy agricultural pastures is something that will be essential for all West Australians long into the future, and rejuvenating grossly over-grazed and degraded land is clearly a sizeable burden for private individuals. Congratulations to you for having the guts to try.
-
on May 27, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Just watched your second Australian Story. Wanted to say that I’ve never been so impressed by someone David, going against the general view of not only pastoralism but rehabilitation. Stick to your guns regards introduced species, no good replacing one problem with another like we invariably seem to do. Degraded farmland isn’t the same as pastoral land and I cheered when I heard your ‘retaining the integrity of the landscape’ comment!
P.S. my logo is based on a photo of a dead Acacia taken at Wooleen! If you ever need botanical assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me through my website/email, what you’re doing is something I would be happy to contribute to.
-
on December 19, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Only just saw the repeat of Australian Story and wanted to say a big thank you for what you are doing.I hope that one day landholders will be financially rewarded/subsidized for being good custodians of the land. You guys are incredible!
Frances… David
It was great to watch tonights episode of Australian Story featuring your beautiful property and to see your progress. We had the joy and privilage of spending some valuable time with Tony, Toni and Peter Andrews at Mulloon Creek (as it was then)when he was first starting the transition of their creek. It was a pleasure to be invited to share in that process and a delight to see their results in such a short time. I wish you well in your vision for a sustainable outcome for Wooleen and will be watching and wanting to do more for you.
Just finished watching the second episode of the Wooleen recovery. Makes me more than ever want to get back over there again – it’s been 37 years since I last was at Wooleen.
Good luck to you both
i just saw this program and although i don’t watch much television, i also saw the other program about you and the one about peter andrews and his amazing regeneration of his property.(ages ago)
i have spent many years coming and going from kalbarri, so i know the beauty of the land over there.
i’m an artist and have done murals in kalbarri, on the iga supermarket, in kalbarri cafe and many homes.
i think what you are doing is really brave and wonderful. i am hoping to be able to visit when i head back to the west, in a few months time.
wishing you all the best with your venture, faye
Hi, just watched the ‘Return to Woolleen’ show on Australian Story. I add my voice to the many who applaud your efforts. My family and I hope to come and visit your station and possibly lend a hand, later on this year.
An idea! What about the Men of the Trees high school and metro community group tree raising and planting programmes? I participated in one for three years and we planted out on two properties. All students involved valued their rural experience which opened their eyes to a different lifestyle and how food is produced.
Regards,
Jacinta
Please forward on my contact details as I would be interested in assisting with Dave and Frances’ endeavour with planning and on ground works after having just started a landscape restoration at Buxton in Victoria with Peter Andrews.
Please call me on 0407 111 332.
Regards
Adrian
Are you aware of WWOOF, Willing Workers on Organic Farms.
It is international & is made up of travelers who want to see the world & work for their keep & no pay. http://www.wwoof.com.au.
It will help if you need labour.
I loved your story.
My daughter is Donna who you may have met at Mulloon Creek.
Edna from Perth.
Following the Australian Story program I wondered why the WA billionaires aren’t leaping forward to fund the restoration of properties like Wooleen? Talk about a carbon credit program that everyone can agree on! Have you approached the Rineharts and the Forrests? I seriously think you should. Since you are graziers and not hippies they will have no reason to be afraid of you. Since you want to restore the ground to fertility and profitability they can’t argue that you want to lock it up and sequester it for all time. It would be fabulous image-restoring publicity for them. I am a media and PR consultant — please feel free to contact me if I can help you further.
It would be nice to see support for projects like yours from the state government “Royalties for Regions” program. While they would probably argue that their funding is for public projects rather than private ventures, maintaining healthy agricultural pastures is something that will be essential for all West Australians long into the future, and rejuvenating grossly over-grazed and degraded land is clearly a sizeable burden for private individuals. Congratulations to you for having the guts to try.
Just watched your second Australian Story. Wanted to say that I’ve never been so impressed by someone David, going against the general view of not only pastoralism but rehabilitation. Stick to your guns regards introduced species, no good replacing one problem with another like we invariably seem to do. Degraded farmland isn’t the same as pastoral land and I cheered when I heard your ‘retaining the integrity of the landscape’ comment!
P.S. my logo is based on a photo of a dead Acacia taken at Wooleen! If you ever need botanical assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me through my website/email, what you’re doing is something I would be happy to contribute to.
Only just saw the repeat of Australian Story and wanted to say a big thank you for what you are doing.I hope that one day landholders will be financially rewarded/subsidized for being good custodians of the land. You guys are incredible!