As a kid i can remember spending some weekends watching shows with the old man about the Aussie bush. With characters such as
Malcolm Douglas, Leyland Brothers, Alby Mangels and among others Les Hiddins.
I really enjoyed these shows as a child and all through my teen years, and even as an adult i still enjoyed the re runs. But now i've grown up a little and actually have a fair few years experience under my belt, i know look back at them all differently.
For me i enjoyed
Malcolm Douglas because alot was filmed around the
Kimberley doing things i did with my old man. Now i appreciate what these people did for a living, does life get any better then what they got paid to do?
Recently i purchased the Bush Tucker Man series on DVD, as i remember enjoying it as a kid and thought it would be good to see again. Now, im a little older and understand what this man was about and what he went through, i cant respect him enough. In my eyes Les Hiddins is the absolute master of all these shows, his knowledge extends far beyond anything
Malcolm and others could understand, and the life he has lived is incredible. I find him rather fascinating, humourous and down to earth. He opened up another world for alot of people in the bush, and really helped the aboriginal people share some of there knowledge of the bush which, i know would of taken us hundreds of years to learn otherwise.
What this man achieved even before the show, 25 years in the Army, serving in twice in Vietnam, and earning the rank of Major is a feat in anybodys book, and something every Aussie should be grateful and respectful of. But even during and after the fame and fortune, he strived to do something for fellow Diggers who were struggling with life after duty. What these men went through i will never know, and hopefully will never experience, but alot of them hold Les in very high regard for his efforts during and after his time serving for Australia. His work in helping establish ''
Pandanus Park'' for soldiers is just one of the many contributions this man has given Australia.
He has been awarded the Member of Australia medal, and also Honorary Doctorate of Science by James
Cook University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology.
Really to me it amzes me the amount of bush tucker and resources i have had right in front of me, my entire life. Some even growing behind me as i type. This knowledge i am sure is great to know for all of us who visit the outback, as i was taught alot about bush foods and living off the land but not quite as much as i would have liked. I will be getting the bush tucker field guide for sure and keeping it in the car with me.
Really it makes others like Bear Grylls and Ray Mears seem a little weak. Still great in there own sense but just not quite on the same level.
Heres a 25 minute interview with the man, for those interested. I highly recommend watching it.
Site Link
Cheers