building bridges with water

1600 1067 In Good Company | Northern Rivers
yaru water tweed northern rivers

Yaru Water
2574 Kyogle Rd, Uki, NSW 2484

www.yaruwater.com

Visit Tweed Northern Rivers -01
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.

yaru water tweed

“This unique partnership between an Indigenous family and a non-Indigenous family enabled Yaru Water to start changing the way the procurement landscape operated, with an emphasis on inclusion, diversity and togetherness,” says Tessa.

“One of our aims is to continue to inspire the procurement landscape and continually evolve in order to create an even greater social impact.”

Yaru’s mission to improve living conditions for Indigenous communities is of course helped by the fact they have such an impressive product. Yaru Water is sold as still and lightly sparkling, with the company set to introduce glass bottles for their Mount Warning Spring Water range soon.

The underground springs are filtered by many layers of ancient volcanic rock, ensuring the water is rich in minerals and is naturally alkaline. The water is bottled without the use of chemicals, is certified carbon neutral, and approved by the Australian Biological Farmers Association as meeting the Australian Organic Standard.

It’s only natural that Yaru’s astonishing community efforts and progressive business model have been recognised. In 2017 the company won the prestigious Optus Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, the Northern Rivers Regional Award winner for Social Enterprise, and was also named as a winner in the Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow Awards 2017.

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

The future will see the Martins continue to invest in and support innovative and essential programs that transform Indigenous communities, and as they do so Yaru Water is becoming a genuine family affair: Shaun and Tessa’s sons are getting involved with the enterprise.

Yaru also continues to enjoy a strong bond with the Northern Rivers business community as well as the spectacular landscape that surrounds the family farm.

“The Northern Rivers is such a lush and plentiful area that is home to so many talented food and beverage artisans,” says Tessa. “As a small family-owned business it is critical to feel part of this community. We have a very caring and inspiring support network around us, including the Northern Rivers Food group.”

Indeed, Yaru Water is a unique combination of ingenuity, loyal customers and supporters, dedication and simple compassion.

“Whilst continually competing against international brands and managing risk, we have always had to use innovation and determination to ensure the success of our brands,” says Tessa. “We are now seeing the difference that our water is making in Indigenous communities, and it makes all the hard work worth it.”

yaru water tweed

Share this story

Read more stories
Evans Head Cabinetry 001

carefully crafted business success

 2000 1041 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Evans Head Cabinet Making
“People often say, ‘They don’t build things like they used to’,” says fine furniture and cabinet maker Justin Crisp. “But I can confidently say…”

island collective yamba

collectively creative social heaven

 1080 823 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Island Collective
If you are looking for contemporary artist and stylist Fleur Yorston, you’ll most likely find her among fiddle leaf figs and cane furniture, in her Yamba…

all the best fine foods casino 001

our kitchen rules in the heart of beef country

 1000 664 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

All The Best Fine Foods
From little things big thing grow, goes the saying, and Casino-based business All The Best Fine Foods is certainly proof that humble….

cumulus vfx byron 002

effective creatives have all the fun

 1000 750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Cumulus VFX
They’ve walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Hoges. Gone down the garden path with Peter Rabbit. Flown Katie Holmes over…

spar maclean clarence valley

making history, creating culture

 1535 1025 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Spar Maclean
SPAR Maclean’s claim to fame is a doozy. Indeed, it’s something only one supermarket in the whole of Australia can say: that it is the longest…

Aurora Suspended Fires_Ballina in good company image 4

all fired up for global attention

 960 600 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Aurora Suspended Fires
Aurora Suspended Fires arose from the perfect marriage of Chloe Allan’s creative talents with Neil’s engineering background. But building a successful…

old-fashioned approach reaps rewards

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Kyogle Country Store
It feels like a brave decision, buying a hardware and rural supplies store in the age of the corporate superstores. Though it was a challenge…

cape byron distellery 002

spirit of the rainforest

 960 540 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Cape Byron Distillery
Let’s forget the beaches for a moment, as the true lifeblood of the Northern Rivers landscape is surely its rainforests, some of the most botanically…

gateway finefoods kyogle

local, seasonal, transformative gem hits town

 960 639 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Gateway Fine Foods and Catering
Debbie McQueen has three words of advice for anyone starting a business in Kyogle: flexibility, perseverance and patience. They’re three traits Debbie…

patches kyogle 001

sewing love for a lifetime

 1232 816 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Patches of Kyogle
Jeannine Smith grew up under her mother’s sewing machine in Western Samoa. “My mother was a professional dressmaker,” says Jeannine…

nicholson fine foods yamba

eclectic food innovator shines

 1030 1030 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Nicholson Fine Foods
The small coastal town of Yamba is home to the one of the world’s best eating prawns, the Eastern King Prawn. It’s also home to the highest…

from generation to generation

 850 565 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Brookfarm
After buying a rundown dairy farm in the Byron hinterland in 1989, it was another ten years before Pam and Martin Brook made their shift to the…

mara_seeds_northern_rivers_business_feature_image_001

organic, sustainable and a local legend

 800 800 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Mara Seeds
The farmer and owner of Mara Seeds knows what can happen when you don’t – his 8000-acre station 50km to the west of Casino has seen worse…

tripadeal_byron_bay

fastest growing, remains humble and local

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

TripADeal
For TripADeal, the figures speak for themselves: revenue in excess of $100million for 2017; 75,000 travellers sent to various…

oatten and hoffman kyogle 002

revving up the community engine

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Oaten and Hoffman
In 2015 Tim Hoffman was riding the high on business success, and had no clue about the blow that was awaiting him….

building a good reputation

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Brett Harley
When the only pub in town burns to the ground, it’s a big responsibility being the one chosen to rebuild it. The success of Uki’s new Mt Warning…

yaru water tweed

building bridges with water

 1600 1067 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Yaru Water
“This unique partnership between an Indigenous family and a non-Indigenous family enabled Yaru Water to start changing the way the procurement…

stone and wood 001

not just a business, a community partner

 960 761 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Stone & Wood
“That’s like asking parents to name which of their children they prefer,” says Jamie Cook, Stone & Wood co-founder. He has been asked which of the…

Southern Cross University Lismore

partners with industry, partners with community

 2000 1048 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Southern Cross University
Celebrating a silver anniversary is a significant milestone, 25 years of developing your relationship, exploring and accepting your strengths…

Osteria Casaurina Tweed Coast

overtures of romance and style

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Osteria
Mark Wilson, Lia Mason and Lee Middendorf all met when the three of them were working in hospitality jobs at The Sandbar …

Start Typing

X