On the land of a mining company, a tree considered a pest has turned into an incredible opportunity.
Important points:
- Managing biodiversity has become a unique business opportunity for an NSW family
- They have harnessed the knowledge of the aborigines to extract valuable essential oil from the invasive white cypress
- They believe the business model could empower indigenous communities who can stay in the country to work
Phil and Cherie Thompson live on the outskirts of Dubbo, New South Wales, famous for its zoo.
What you won’t find in the zoo is the pink-tailed worm lizard.
Native to the area, it has been lacking in action, in part due to the invasive native white cypress pine.
Mr. Thomson, a man from Bidjara Bidjara / Kara Kara in central Queensland was tasked with managing the country’s biodiversity balance, including the tree’s extermination.
“We’re trying to recreate ecosystems for a rare, pink-tailed worm lizard that is on the list of critically endangered animals – I’ve personally never seen one,” he said.
Thinning the white cypress pines will help promote biodiversity. (
ABC: Halina Baczkowski
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“As soon as we’ve thinned out the cypress, the sunlight comes back and the sun makes the grass grow again, which means that the ants can eat the grass seed again.
“Once the ants are back, the whole ecosystem can come back: the beetles, the beetles, the birds.”
Use old knowledge
Mr Thompson was not satisfied with seeing the trees go into the chopper and sought advice from local Wiradjuri elder Peter Peckham.
“We knew there [were] Oils in the leaves, “said Peckham.
“Traditionally, we just tore off the leaves, heated them, put whatever it was on our wounds, bandaged them.”
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Mr. Thompson said Mr. Peckham’s expertise was invaluable.
“What I appreciate the most is that he’s here almost every day, constantly reminding himself of what they used as kids, and [saying]”You know Phil, we could extract this,” “he said.
“It’s just constant, constant – we just scratched the surface with white cypress pine.”
This old knowledge gave birth to a new idea.
The two worked together for two years to find out how to properly harvest the precious oil from the leaves of the white cypress.
“The main ingredient in this oil is a chemical called alpha pinene,” Thompson said.
“It’s a natural anti-inflammatory agent.”
The white cypress pine is felled and the leaves are removed to extract the essential oil.
ABC: Halina Baczkowski
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Using the leaves of the thinned trees, Mr. Thompson and his wife Cherie started an essential oils business and extracted the substance on site.
They cut down the trees, separate the leaves from the wood and then use tools to extract the oil for six hours. It is then sent to Sydney for finishing and bottling.
“Essential oils are a real passion of mine,” said Mr. Thompson.
“I could do it any day; I think about it around the clock.
“I just love being in the bush and extracting oils from indigenous plants and learning about our indigenous culture and how we would have known and got to know these plants over generations.”
Ms. Thompson, whose roots are with the Weilwans of midwestern New South Wales, is doing a Masters in Business Administration and says this has given her insight into her local business.
“I’m not afraid of getting my hands dirty with Phil if I have to. [and] go out and drive the truck or tractor, but my main job is to market and grow the business, “she said.
The Thompsons hope to inspire others to start family businesses in rural communities.
ABC: Halina Baczkowski
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Building the company was not easy, and the couple was already busy.
“We had a lot of unbelievers, that’s for sure, because they’ve never seen it before,” Thompson said.
“Everyone thought I was crazy.”
“He came home after a long day and [say]”We’re going to do it, we’re going to do it,” “said Mrs. Thompson.
Strengthening indigenous communities
The couple plan to expand their essential oils business to beauty products, but they’re interested in more than just profit.
Phil Thompson says his passion for business has guided him through challenges. (
ABC: move to the country
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Mr Thompson believes he is not just starting a small business, but a model that could be used in indigenous communities across the country.
“It was a couple of times [when] we thought ‘oh this is too hard, it doesn’t work’ but we just persevered and something got us through: the passion or belief in what we are trying to do as we try to create jobs in the zones “, he said.
“Especially in indigenous communities, no one wants to leave their homes, so this is just one model that came to mind where you don’t have to go anywhere.
“We can do this in any community: indigenous or rural [or] regional community. “
He also enjoyed sharing cultural knowledge with a whole new audience.
“Learning about traditional knowledge and translating it into a contemporary product can keep that knowledge alive and have a really great product on the shelf for people,” he said.
“I wanted to show everyone that it actually works – we’ve proven it. It took a while, but it actually works. “
As for the pink-tailed worm lizard, they are still waiting and hoping for a sighting.
Watch the ABCTV premiere of Movin ‘To The Country on Friday at 7:30 p.m. or stream on iview.
