CAST
The people working on the ground
Bill Gammage
AM, FASSA, Historian, Emeritus professor at the Australian National University Canberra fffff
In 1998, Gammage joined ANU researching Aboriginal land management.
His work spanned history, anthropology, geography, and botany.
In 2011, he published "The Biggest Estate on Earth."
It won several awards, including the 2012 Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History.
Jacob Birch, Gamilaraay
Founder and Managing Director of Yaamarra & Yarral, PhD Candidate, Native Grains Industry Advocate
Jacob walks many disparate spaces in an impassioned effort to re-awaken Australia’s native grain foodways, like those maintained by the Gamilaraay community for thousands of generations. He hopes Australians can embrace the opportunities for food production that sit in better relationship with country; and empower our diverse tapestry of First Peoples to elevate their principles of relationality, reciprocity, respect, and responsibility to shift the dominant paradigm towards a vibrant, abundant, sustainable and equitable future for all.
Reg Abrahams, Wathaurong
Indigenous protected areas project coordinator, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-op is dedicated to the management of this land, actively engaged in the revegetation process while simultaneously enlightening the younger community members about their rich history and culture through a diverse array of educational programs. Reg Abrahams, serving as the Program Manager, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success and impact of these initiatives.
Barry Gilson, Wathaurung
A Wathaurung man
A singer, poet and actor. Barry specialises in bringing back the ancient words and language of his people the “Wathaurung”.
Working strongly towards reinstating a lost culture that has survived genocide and colonisation.
Great odds he has overcome to work towards leaving a legacy of hope and survival for future generations to follow.
The past he believes is the greatest strength he has, because without it… there is no future.
Rodney Carter, Djaara
Chief Executive Officer, DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation)
We are a Traditional Owner Group entity that has fought to be recognised as the Traditional Owners of D, in Central Victoria.
DJAKITJ, a bush foods business by DJAARA, develops traditional native ingredients from central Victoria, Australia for local production using Dja Dja Wurrung cultural knowledge. By combining TEK and technology, we offer new food products. It signifies Dja Dja Wurrung's reclamation of land and revival of customs, benefitting all Australians.
Stuart McCallum
Secretary, The Victorian Volcanic Plain Biosphere Inc
The Victorian Volcanic Plain Biosphere is a registered charity aiming to create a Biosphere on the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Stuart heads the volunteer committee responsible for engaging stakeholders, drafting a proposed Biosphere map, sorting governance and drawing up an application to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program.
Paul Gibson Roy
Restoration Ecologist, Grassy Groundcover Research Project
Dr. Paul Gibson Roy, previously the lead scientist at Greening Australia, has extensive experience restoring grasslands and woodlands. In 2004, he launched the Grassy Groundcover Research Project, showcasing the success of native plant restoration through direct seeding. In 2016, he visited the US to research native seed production and prairie restoration sectors.
Paul has published extensively on restoration, native seed production and the restoration sector, and in 2023 co-edited a book compiling extensive global case studies entitled Ecological Restoration – Moving Forward Using Lessons Learned.
Colin Seis
Farmer and pasture cropping pioneer, Winona
Winona uses 'pasture cropping' for up to 500 acres of oats annually. They harvest native grass seeds from their grassland each year. The Seis family in Gulgong manages 4,000 merino sheep with 'time control grazing'. Winona Merino Stud has 500 ewes, founded in 1949. Winona Kelpie stud is a major 'kelpie working dog' breeder, selling worldwide.
Colin recently wrote and published a book titled ’ Custodians of the Grasslands’. This is the story of how mid-20th-century agriculture failed, with the adoption of industrial agricultural practices and high rates of use of fertiliser and pesticides inflicting severe ecological damage on the land. The decline threatened to spiral the farm and the family into financial ruin.
Uncle David Wandin, Wurundjeri
Cultural Practices Manager, Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation.
Uncle David Wandin, a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and Cultural Practices Manager, leads cultural burns and chairs the Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation. The Wurundjeri people own Coranderrk in the Yarra Valley, operating it as a farm for native bush foods and environmental restoration, with plans to become a training space and commercial kitchen.
Peter Wlodarczyk
Greybox & Grasslands Indigenous Nursery
Owner and operator of Greybox & Grasslands Indigenous Nursery, specializing in the cultivation of native seeds. The nursery is dedicated to championing the preservation of indigenous plant species and promoting sustainable landscaping practices within the community of indigenous grasslands.
Dr Heather Threadgold
Anthropologist / Historian / Landscape Architecture - Urban Perspectives / Place-Based Interpretation /Facilitator / Heritage Advisor
For 20 years, Heather studied Aboriginal landscapes in Victoria, conducting extensive research and developing a mapping system based on the Victorian Volcanic Plains and stone sites. She emphasizes the importance of protecting Aboriginal places amidst urban expansion, valuing Aboriginal knowledge for a better future.
Mel Doherty
Urban Biodiversity Officer, Hume City Council
I've worked full time in the environmental management and biodiversity conservation sector for over 20 years with several organisations. My paid and volunteer roles have mainly involved community engagement and education, with a focus on sustainable behaviour change.
CREW
The people making the film
Lee Ramseyer Bache,
Director, Producer, Writer
Lee is an experienced filmmaker who has worked as a Director, Producer and Scriptwriter in Australia and the UK for over 15 years. He is known for producing the highly acclaimed documentary We Are Poets (Sheff Doc Fest, 2012), which won several international awards. He also directed Darebin's Natural Heritage (2019), which was selected for the Environmental Film Festival Australia. This inspired him to create a feature-length documentary that highlights the significance of native grasslands in addressing Australia's water, fire, climate and food crises.
Lee co-founded Lightworks Studios to create films that connect the general public with the living world and advocate for positive social transformation.
In 2014, Lee co-founded Little Projector Company. where he oversees the creative direction of their public art events, installations and festivals. These projects combine projection art, installations, performances, screenings and tours that utilise projection, film, animation, storytelling and sound design to create joyful and inclusive experiences for all.
Ivan Masic,
DoP, Producer, Editor
Ivan Masic is an audio-visual artist and filmmaker, whose work spans a wide range of creative projects, including music videos, short-form documentaries, audio-visual installations & a/v performances that incorporate live music and audio reactive projections. Ivan has toured Europe with Yolngu trio, Malawurr, as lead DoP on forthcoming feature-documentary, Morning Star, sequel to the award winning documentary Westwind: Djalu's Legacy (2018).
The primary focus of Ivan’s work is in creating an authentic audio-visual vocabulary that seeks to inform, challenge and inspire, whilst broadening our understanding and experience of conceptual ideas.
As co-director of Little Projector Company, Ivan creates, facilitates, and documents the development and exhibition of site-responsive installations, performances, and tours that combine the language of cinema with projection, music and live performance.
Jacob Birch, Gamilaraay
Co-producer
As a Gamilaraay man, founder and Managing Director of Yaamarra & Yarral, PhD Candidate, and a Native Grains Industry Advocate, Jacob is well-positioned to shape what is a foremostly First Nations story. He is working closely with the director, writer, and other key creative personnel to develop the script, research the stories, and make important production-related decisions.
Jacob walks many disparate spaces in an impassioned effort to re-awaken Australia’s native grain foodways, like those maintained by the Gamilaraay community for thousands of generations. He hopes Australians can embrace the opportunities for food production that sit in better relationship with country; and empower our diverse tapestry of First Peoples to elevate their principles of relationality, reciprocity, respect, and responsibility to shift the dominant paradigm towards a vibrant, abundant, sustainable and equitable future for all.
Oran Ambachi
Music
Oren Ambarchi is an Australian multi-instrumentalist whose practice focuses on the exploration of the guitar. He is a prolific solo artist and consummate collaborator who has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists over the last three decades including; Fennesz, Charlemagne Palestine, Sunn 0)), crys cole, Thomas Brinkmann, Keiji Haino, Alvin Lucier, John Zorn, Annea Lockwood, Alvin Curran, Loren Connors, Manuel Gottsching, Merzbow, Jim O'Rourke, Keith Rowe, David Rosenboom, Akio Suzuki, Phill Niblock, John Tilbury, Richard Pinhas, Evan Parker, and many more. He has released numerous recordings over the years for labels such as Touch, Editions Mego, Drag City, PAN, Kranky and Tzadik. Since 2009 Ambarchi has run the Black Truffle record label.
Ambarchi's latest album is Shebang released via US label Drag City.