A film documenting how the correct choice of plants and use of water can change the Australian landscape premieres in Gympie next month.
Rehydrating Australia has been made by the Andrews family from Kybong and captures the work of farmers across Australia as they restore degraded landscapes through Natural Sequence Farming.
Developed by the family’s Tarwyn Park Training, the film builds on the knowledge of Peter Andrews OAM who has made the correct choice of plants and use of water to rebuild landscapes and environments.
Stuart and Megan Andrews of Kybong, together with sons Hamish and Lachlan, have created this transformative documentary from their travels with Tarwyn Park Training courses and field days – from Central Queensland to Tasmania.
It documents the work of Tarwyn Park Training graduates and shows how they’re shifting from water drainage to landscape rehydration: slowing the flow, restoring soil health, building biodiversity, and creating climate resilience amid droughts, fires, and floods.
To be screened at Gympie Cinemas on Monday, 2 March, it’s a story of hope, practical solutions, and a movement that’s proving Australia’s old continent can lead the world in restoration.
“Everyone featured are graduates of the course,” Hamish Andrews said. “They are sharing Peter’s message and showing what can be done when put into practice across a wide variety of landscapes, environments and climates.
“It works everywhere. People just need to understand what’s required to manage a landscape and to modify that process for their particular environment.”
The documentary has been in the production stages for more than a year, filming in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Pete Dowson from the Friendly Farms not-for-profit organisation did the filming while the storyline is presented by Stuart Andrews.
It’s a matter of interweaving the stories of farmers from different regions and uses of the land.
The family is pleased the filming and production is wrapped up after such a long process, and amounts of travelling.
“Dad is really proud of the result,” Hamish said, “and we are ready for it to hit the screens.
“We are all playing our part and have been really absorbed in the process.”
The premiere of the documentary, to be screened at 5pm on 2 March, will be followed by an exclusive live Q&A with Stuart Andrews and the Tarwyn Park Training team.
“The key component is how to read a landscape and how then to implement natural sequence farming,” Stuart said.
“It’s a matter of beginning to understand the natural patterns and processes that occur to ensure a landscape remains hydrated and running at full efficiency.
“Rehydrating the landscape helps to maximise productivity in farming. Choosing the right plants and utilising water correctly and efficiently is what builds everything.
“You must start understanding how the landscape functions first and foremost. That leads to increasing productivity, at the same time improving the environment.”
Peter Andrews started talking about rehydration of the landscape in the Upper Hunter of New South Wales in the 1970s.
Tarwyn Park Training started in 2012 and is continuing at Kybong. Training courses are now held throughout Australia.
A special thanks goes to the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management for their support in bringing this premiere screening to our region.
This is just the first screening of the film that will roll out in more locations across Australia including Bellingen on Friday, 6 March; Byron Bay on Saturday, 7 March, and Sydney on Monday, 16 March.
For those unable to attend in person, there will be a global YouTube premiere in the future.
Secure your tickets: www.eventbrite.com.au/…/reydrate-australia
