Another Aussie Hero

Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Part 1

06/06/2005

Peter Andrews is a racehorse breeder and farmer credited with remarkable success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures. His methods are so at odds with conventional scientific wisdom, that for 30 years he has been dismissed and ridiculed as a madman. He has faced bankruptcy and family break-up.

But now, at a minute to midnight, leading politicians, international scientists and businessmen are beating a path to his door as they grapple with how best to alleviate the affects of drought on the Australian landscape.

Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his ‘natural sequence farming’ are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.

Retailer Gerry Harvey has become a committed backer and has recruited Andrews to work on his own horse stud in the Widden Valley. Businessman Richard Pratt is also getting involved.

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson has become a convert. And now a number of leading national and international scientists hail Andrews as a 'prophet' who should be listened to.

There will be an internet forum at the end of next week's concluding episode.

Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Part 2

13/06/2005

Last week Australian Story introduced audiences to racehorse breeder and farmer Peter Andrews, who has had extraordinary success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures. His methods are so at odds with conventional scientific wisdom, that for 30 years he’s been dismissed and ridiculed as a madman.

In this week’s concluding episode, eminent national and international scientists agree that Peter Andrews potentially has the solution to alleviating the affects of drought on many parts of the Australian landscape. New research on the property of retailer and Andrews backer Gerry Harvey in the Widden Valley confirms that Peter Andrews’ ‘natural sequence farming’ is achieving startling results very cheaply, simply and quickly.

Supporters of Peter Andrews say he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he’s restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. As the evidence mounts to support Peter Andrews’ theories, committed backers such as Harvey, businessman Richard Pratt and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson are working to harness and apply his knowledge as Australia faces the driest period on record.

Vindication has come at last for Peter Andrews, but it’s come at a high personal cost.

There will also be an online forum at the conclusion of the program to discuss more of the scientific aspects of natural sequence farming.

Interview with John Williams, former CSIRO Head of Land and Water
Dr John Williams is the former CSIRO Head of Land and Water and is now the Chief Scientist for NSW Dept of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR). Dr Williams worked for the CSIRO when Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson commissioned them to look into Peter Andrews' drought-proofing theories.
Interview with land ecologist Professor David Goldney
Land ecologist Professor David Goldney has spent years working to fit Peter Andrews' drought-proofing theories into his existing scientific knowledge. As he tells Australian Story, he now believes the methods have much wider application.
Interview with wetland ecologist Dr David Mitchell
David Mitchell is a former CSIRO scientist and now works as an adjunct professor at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. He tells Australian Story how he has come to appreciate the work of Peter Andrews.
Interview with environment scientists Dr Annabelle Keene and Dr Richard Bush
Environment scientists Dr Annabelle Keene and Dr Richard Bush from Southern Cross University have been testing Peter Andrews' theories on Gerry Harvey's property as part of a research project. They say the change in short periods of time has been "mind blowing".
Interview with Czech scientist Jan Porkorny
Jan Porkorny is a land and water expert from the Czech Republic with expertise in documenting the movement of water across the landscape. He has come to Australia to test the theories of Peter Andrews.
Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Part 2
Interview with land ecologist Professor Wilhelm Ripl
Water and landscape ecologist Wilhelm Ripl has described Peter Andrews as a prophet crying in the desert. He says his methods make sense and it might be time to take him seriously.