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From Darwin to the Ekka: Meet NT Cattle Parader Alyssa Harris

21 Jul, 2026

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Harris only entered her first cattle-parading competition in 2025. A little over a year later, she is preparing to represent the Northern Territory on the national stage at the Ekka in Brisbane. Alyssa earned the opportunity after being named the 2025 State Champion Parader at the Royal Darwin Show. This August, she will compete against some of Australia's best young cattle handlers at the 2026 Agricultural...

"If It Helps One Kid Chase Their Dream..."

17 Jul, 2026

It took me a while to convince Ben Young to let me feature him the RFTTEJOBS newsletter. Like many ringers, Ben isn't one for the limelight. But eventually he agreed, telling me: "If this helps one kid to have confidence to leave his or her hometown and head north to chase their dreams, I guess it's worth it." That's a pretty good reason. At just 24 years old, Ben has already packed plenty into his cattle industry journey. Growing up...

What's It Really Like Being a Governess on a Cattle Station? Holly Gorroick Shares Her Story

15 Jul, 2026

When most people think about working on a cattle station, they picture ringers, helicopters and horses. But behind the scenes there's another role that's just as important. The Governess, or 'Govie' as they're affectionately known. Twenty-year-old Holly Gorroick from Ipswich, Queensland, has spent the past two years working as a Governess on a family-owned cattle station in the Gulf of Carpentaria region of the Northern Territory,...

How to Get a Station Hand Job in Australia (2027 Guide)

10 Jul, 2026

How to Get a Station Hand Job in Australia (2027 Guide) Everything you need to know to land your first cattle station job, impress employers and kick-start a career in Australia’s livestock industry. Jump to a Section What is a station hand? Do you need experience? Station hand readiness checklist Licences and qualifications Practical skills employers value How to prepare your résumé Writing your...

The Blokes Under The Brim at Brunette

07 Jul, 2026

How 17-year-old Annie-Maree Martin is capturing the spirit of Australia's ringers, one portrait at a time. Every June, the Brunette Races draw people from every corner of northern Australia to the legendary Brunette Downs Station on the Barkly Tableland. Dating back to 1910, when neighbouring stations Alexandria, Brunette Downs and Creswell Downs established the A.B.C. Amateur Race Club, the races have become one of the Northern...

What Does 'Ringers from the Top End' Mean? History & Modern Jobs Explained

30 Jun, 2026

If you’ve spent any time in the Australian outback or working in agriculture, you’ve probably heard the phrase ' Ringers from the Top End.' But what does it really mean, and where does it come from? In this post, we’ll explore the history, the modern meaning, and the jobs associated with this iconic outback term. What is a “Ringer from the Top End”? A 'ringer from the top end' refers to a highly skilled stock worker, or ringer ,...

From Horses to Herd Data: Chris Morrow's Modern Pilbara Muster

25 Jun, 2026

I've known Chris Morrow for a few years now. The former Kimberley station manager has spent much of his career working cattle across northern Australia and, like many station managers, he's turned his hand to just about everything along the way, from flying helicopters and driving road trains to riding horses and, most importantly, being a husband and dad. Chris driving a road train in 2023. Today, Chris is based in Broome with his...

What Does It Mean to Be a Pastoralist?

18 Jun, 2026

The year 2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It offers a unique opportunity to showcase and celebrate the landscapes and people who shape Central Australia’s rangelands. Covering around 75% of the country, the rangelands are closely associated with the outback and are deeply embedded in Australia’s culture and identity. Recently, Central Australia-based livestock engagement officer Caleb Schwartz from the...

Kimberley Cattle Indo Bound... Maitie Webb's Journey North

29 May, 2026

I first met Maitland 'Maitie' Webb back in 2018 at the Birdsville Races. She was helping out with her Dad's helicopter business, and even in our brief chat back then, it was clear she was destined to head north. Fast forward seven years, and at just 29, Maitie’s already carved out quite a career - I fired off a few questions while she was Indo-bound on a live export boat... How did you end up on a boat to Indonesia? Maitie: I’d...

Going the Distance on Chainsaw the Rodeo Bull

27 May, 2026

Chainsaw: The Legendary Bucking Bull Dave Johnston Rode Into Rodeo Folklore By Brent Langley Chainsaw was not just a bucking bull. He was an Australian rodeo icon. Unpredictable, athletic and almost impossible to ride, Chainsaw became one of the most feared and famous bulls in Australian rodeo history. For years, hundreds of riders tried to conquer him. Only a handful ever lasted the full eight seconds. Then, on 30 May 1987 at...

He met two ringers over a beer, then this happened...

19 May, 2026

I thought I’d share this cracking story from Canadian Peter Tierney. It all started with a beer at Expo ’88 and two North Queensland ringers... leading to a cattle station adventure, a Canadian flag, and a promise that took 38 years to fulfil. Over to you Pete... '38 years ago, I travelled to Brisbane, Australia for an AIESEC business internship working at Morgan Investments during World Expo 1988. One evening at the German Beer Hall, I...

The Ultimate Guide to Outback Jobs in Australia (2026)

19 May, 2026

If you’ve ever thought about heading bush and giving it a crack, 2026 is shaping up as one of the best years yet to land an outback job in Australia. From cattle stations in the NT to cropping operations in QLD and WA, the demand for workers is strong - especially for those willing to roll up their sleeves and commit to a season. What counts as an 'outback job'? Outback jobs typically fall into a few key categories: Cattle station...

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