building bridges with water

Shaun and Tessa Martin had long known about the reserves of water in underground springs beneath their idyllic property near Uki in the foothills of Wollumbin-Mount Warning. To give you a sense of place, think of Eden and you might be half way to imaging how serene and mesmerising this environment is.

The family land dates back to Shaun’s forefather who selected the property in 1904 for its rich soil, lush surroundings and naturally occurring springs. After decades of being a dairy farm and with the associated challenges behind this, the question was what to do next? Tourism perhaps?

No. Husband and wife team Shaun and Tessa wanted to do something with a higher purpose so instead chose to launch a unique social enterprise that combines the production and sale of that naturally occurring spring water with the establishment of a range of projects that have led to health improvements, cultural awareness and sustainable outcomes in the Indigenous community.

Yaru Water, which is sourced and bottled on the family farm and sold in many supermarkets, hotel chains and restaurants, is more than just water.

“We saw an opportunity to give back to First Australians and promote unity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” says Tessa.

“We knew that a social enterprise could give us a far greater purpose than establishing a business based purely on profit.”

Many businesses aim to combine commerce with social or environmental causes, but few have done so with the vision and commitment of Yaru Water, whose work is felt Australia-wide.

“For example,” says Tessa, “through sales of Yaru Water and Mount Warning Spring Water we were recently able to implement a water filtration system in a remote community in Western Australia. The community’s water was contaminated with nitrates and was undrinkable, and this particularly affected the most vulnerable members of the community.

“We installed a safe, clean drinking water system that now provides water to an entire community. We couldn’t be prouder of this achievement.”

Yaru Water was established in 2011, though Mount Warning Spring Water, the Martins’ first product using the waters beneath their land was launched in 2006.

Yaru began life as a result of two Northern Rivers families joining forces with the intention of helping to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. A partnership began between the Martins and a family of the Bundjalung Nation of Northern New South Wales, a reciprocal relationship that has seen the exchange of knowledge, resources, goodwill and ideas about business practice.

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