Australian Skills

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nick-nack

Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
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Hey,
Ive been into camping and outdoors for a few years now but am beginning to get interested into plants and stuff. Sure I've probably read every thread there is on this topic right here on the WSS forum but thats all American species.

Anyone know of any videos that talks about this, it doesnt have to be long or detailed just some basics. Like a Ray Mears kind of show but in Australia.

And before any recommend books I just want to say although that is probably the best way to go - Im more of a see and hear kind of learner. So getting some basics from a video will help greatly before I hit the books. I would take a course locally but I really dont have the time for that.

Thanks
Nick
 
Do a search on Bushtucker Man (Les Hiddins) - the guy is top notch. Before he retired, he was a major in the Australian Army. His job was to interact with the aboriginals of the Northern Territories and learn and record their bush tucker. Also, survival techniques, I guess. Here's one link. And another. Still one more. The rest you can find yourself. :D

Doc
 
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Hi Nick Nack, I'm an Aussie too. A stated above, Les Hiddens is probably the closest to bushcraft you'll get here, although his focus tends to be on edibles rather than skills.
Ray Mears has done a few episodes in Australia now, including his new series, which is all about Oz.
Don't forget to check out http://www.bushfood.net/ for info on wild foods.
 
It's called walkabout. It is fairly historically based, rather than skill based like his earlier ones, but there's some good info in it. He does one episode with the Bushtucker man, which is great.
But in both extreme survival and wildfoods, he travels to Australia and practices skills also.
 
Ray Mears also did a couple of episodes in Australia in his earlier series if you can track them down.
Nick-nack if you have trouble getting books like that to flick through before you buy may I suggest you look in gift-shops at the large city museums and at the botanical gardens. I couldn't find any of Les Hiddens books in the book shops but then I found a couple in Melbourne museum shop. And I found a few books on bush food and bush medicine in the shops at both Melbourne and Sydney Botanical Gardens. Also in the major cities in Oz you have these government shops that are a sort of government stationers selling maps, history, law reference, land title stuff etc. Sorry I can't remember what there called but the one in Mel' was packed full of bushtucker books. I wish I'd bought some now but I had a weight limit and books are heavy.

D.
 
Wajarri Wisdom by Estelle Leyland ( IIRC) is a good one , I know its a book but anyway , it does have pictures ...
Its also a book b the Yamatji mob , they are , IMHO , as good a source of info as any expert , but thats my biased opinion .
 
Of course, as an Australian, you'll find Richard H. Graves' classic, The 10 Bushcraft Books, pretty applicable to you, I imagine, as Graves was an Australian. While I don't know enough about the country to advise as to how applicable Graves' material is to the various parts of Australia, it's at least a start. (Sorry to be recommending a book, rather than a video or DVD, but someone had to mention your country's classic on the subject.)

While I believe The 10 Bushcraft Books are out of print, one can usually find copies via www.abebooks.com . Inexpensive copies tend to be in the hands of sellers in Australia, which has made them prohibitively expensive for me to buy and have shipped to the US--but you could likely assemble all 10 subparts fairly inexpensively. Or, if you prefer to get it free, it is available on the internet, for free, at this site:

http://tions.net/CA256EA900408BD5/vwWWW/outdoor~03~000

Cheers!
 
G'day Nick.

Bear in mind that Les Hibbens work focuses on plant resources in the Nth of Aus.

Depending on where you are, there may be significant differences in the types and availability of useful plants.

If possible, the best way to learn about Aussie plants is to spend time in the bush with local female Aboriginal elders. Hands on learning from the real experts :thumbup:

There is another thread that shows pics of a range of edible plants (including plants found in the SE corner of Australia). I'm sorry I can't help with video suggestions.

Good luck with your quest.

Kind regards
Mick
 
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