130 Australian Geographic
REWIND
IN APRIL 2009 , PHOTOGRAPHER Dean Saffron spent a few weeks in the middle of the Northern
Territory, capturing life for AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC on far-flung Brunette Downs. At
12,212sq.km, it is one of Australia’s largest cattle stations and bigger than some countries. Dean had
not long ditched the security of a commercial studio for a broader professional experience, and
had been working for aid agencies in overseas trouble spots before we tracked him down in Mount
Isa, Queensland. He was in search of the “real Aussie outback” and certainly found it when we sent
him a further 430km north-west, across the border onto Brunette. He discovered a vibrant, isolated
community of more than 50 people, most of whom were young, single and male – such as stockmen
William Luff and Chris Kane, seen here wrangling one of the station’s 72,000 head of cattle. Each
working day began just before 4am, with the cook cranking out a hot breakfast. When this shot was
taken – just before lunch – the sun was over the yardarm and most people had already put in an
eight-hour day. They’d tumble exhausted into bed another eight hours later.PHOTOGR APH BY DEAN SAFFRON AG 97, JAN–MAR 2010, OUT TAKEA hard day’s yakka