Workshop attendees with Jeanette and David Crew at the Pandyil tourist hub.
Photo by
Laura Green
Pandyil Farm has been a project four decades in the making, and it’s finally coming to fruition.
As well as being an operational agribusiness, Pandyil Farm will be a tourist hub with on-site training programs centring on First Nations people.
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It is a collaborative project between the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Pandyil Farm and Outback Academy Australia.
OAA is a national organisation which assists First Nations farmers prepare their properties for production, with a focus on ‘‘ethical, sustainable and cooperative models for Aboriginal led and owned agricultural and horticultural business, and linked tourism”.
Follow the Flowers is the name of this initiative which links First Nations regenerative farmers such as Pandyil Farm owners David and Jeanette Crew OAM for supply opportunity, capacity and capability building in agribusiness.
This is the premise for Pandyil — Pandyil meaning Murray Cod in the Wamba Wamba language.
It is a 32 hectare (80 acre) property.
Events held in Deniliquin late last week acted as a culmination of 20 years of projects leading up to this point, and a prelude for what is to come.
A meet and greet last Thursday gave guests the chance to sample and celebrate local produce from creators and producers at Yarkuwa.
The following day, a workshop explaining the Pandyil Farm premise and a tour of the farm took place.
While it is largely lacking in infrastructure for now, it features a beautiful home, some versatile sheds, and solar panels, and the Crews plan to keep adding resources where necessary.
It is also an important location for Mrs Crew.
‘‘It’s right between the two places where I grew up — so Moonacullah is just down the road, and beyond that is the Werai Forest,’’ she said.
David Crew (left) consults with apiarist Ben Dunn at Pandyil.
Photo by
Laura Green
The creation of a tourist information hub has been started using a freight container, which the Crews plan to liven up with contributions from community and organisations.
At the time of the 2016 Census, First Nations people made up just one per cent of Australia’s agricultural workforce.
The ABS reported between just one and 11 First Nations people held jobs in agriculture in the Edward River and Murray River council areas respectively.
Mr Crew said a 2019 study by Bushfood Sensations found that ‘‘only one per cent of the industry’s annual $20 million was generated by Aboriginal people’’.
‘‘A Yarkuwa study in 2016 found that local families were better off financially in 1965 than they are now.’’
‘‘This is despite all the legislation enacted by government for the benefit of Aboriginal people,’’ Mr Crew said.
So what needs to change?
Pandyil Farm in collaboration with OAA, local, state and Commonwealth stakeholders, will create training opportunities for First Nations people in agribusiness, through Yarkuwa and on-farm for experiential, hands-on learning. It aims to address gaps in skills pertaining to the industry, and return a sense of ownership of lands and native or locally grown products to the First Nations community.
Plans for the farm include the re-establishment of wetlands in an on-property dam, and the development of a honey farm and flower farm.
To add value to their products, the Crews are also building an industrial kitchen to process the saltbush into relish. While in its early stages, Mr Crew hopes some aspects of the farm will be operational within three months.
The Crews partnered with OAA because of the success of properties already set up in Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria.
Follow the Flowers farms like Pandyil Farm, are intended to be active and interactive places of business and skills building. OAA Executive Director Clare O’Kelly attended last week’s events in Deniliquin to discuss how alliance-based, regenerative farming can be used in the Pandyil project.
‘‘Working together, these farmers can bring about significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the regions and communities in which they are located. There are two NSW based hubs, Pandyil Farm and in Dareton, we are working hard to accelerate,’’ Ms O’Kelly said.
Mrs Crew said ‘‘our plans include re-establishing native fish and wetlands, providing natural resources, and creating land resilience’’.
The Crews and OAA acknowledge the support of the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program in enabling technical and business support to planning and capability building for Pandyil Farm as a significant resource for the local community, including youth, in agribusiness skills development.
