179. Coming to a Head in the Kimberley: Chris Henggeler on regenerating consciousness, community & Country

Chris Henggeler and his family manage Kachana Station in the East Kimberley, only accessible by foot or air. They took responsibility for this desertified and abandoned country, and have achieved some incredible regeneration, culminating last year in a State Soil Health Champion award. Yet with still vast lands desertifying around them, and so much opportunity to build on models like Kachana, we recorded an episode out there two years ago titled Wanted Land Doctors. Now the second most popular episode on this podcast, it was a powerful invitation for the next generations to join the fray, and how the rest of us can help them do it. But there is trouble afoot.

The regeneration at Kachana Station has incorporated and relied on not just cattle, but wild donkeys. The bond these animals share with this Station family is clear. But just before we recorded that episode two years ago, the state department ordered the family to gun them down as pests. The Henggelers appealed the order. And the State Tribunal process adjudicating on that appeal is coming to a head in a few weeks.

In parallel, you could say, the Kimberley itself is coming to a head. Forecast to suffer unliveable heat in the coming decades, with ‘climate refugees’ already heading south, and worsening floods like this year's at Fitzroy Crossing.

So this week, Chris and I draw some of the broader patterns together. And we hear the latest on how they're being turned around at Kachana, and beyond. That leads us to a deep dive on some of the best stories, thinking and intuitive wisdom we’re coming across, that are helping more heads and hearts come together across divides, to make more of the good stuff happen.

Next week, part 2 of this episode will feature a full and telling update on the donkey situation.

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect).

Recorded on 23 August 2023.

Title slide: Chris Henggeler & friends (pic: Anthony James).

See more photos on the episode web page, and to see more from behind the scenes, become a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Music:

Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, off the soundtrack for the film Regenerating Australia.

Find more:

Kachana Station.

You can hear the previous chat with Chris in ep.100, Wanted Land Doctors (with more photos and links on that web page).

The change in land tenure at El Questro.

RE:CONNECTION Festival.

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