‍By Laticia Braving, Creator and Executive Producer

The Heart of Where It All Began

I was born in Casino, in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales — a place stitched into my soul. Some of my earliest memories are the smell of freshly cut hay, the soft hum of my grandfather’s old header, and the golden light across the paddocks at Ellangowan as we rounded up cattle, pushing them through the heat and dust to better pastures.

That was where my love of regional life was born — in the quiet beauty of a place that too often goes unseen. The rhythm of that childhood, the people who worked the land, and the stories that never made the front page… they’ve shaped everything I’ve done since.

For more than twenty years, I’ve dedicated my career to telling stories about the remarkable, everyday humans who make regional Australia what it is. People who innovate, create, and endure — not because it’s glamorous or easy, but because it’s home.

‍Why I Created You Can’t Do That in the Bush

This series came from a deep frustration and an even deeper love. I was tired of seeing regional and remote communities portrayed only through crisis — drought, floods, fires — when I knew there was so much more to tell. Out here, there’s ingenuity that rivals Silicon Valley, creativity that could fill any art gallery, and resilience that can’t be taught in a boardroom.

You Can’t Do That in the Bush is my way of showing that brilliance doesn’t require a city skyline. It’s a documentary series that travels across Australia to spotlight radical ideas, grassroots problem-solving, and bold leadership born far from the capitals.

From turning marine debris into usable products in the Torres Strait (Plastic Fantastic) to running a couture fashion label from rural Mareeba (Threads of Culture), every episode reveals something I’ve always known — that our regions are alive with talent, drive, and heart.
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Building a Platform for Regional Voices

Out of this same belief came Regional Stories, a digital storytelling platform I founded through my company, Blue Clay Creatives. It’s a space designed to connect, empower, and amplify voices across regional and remote Australia — combining curated content from existing regional creators with original films, photography, podcasts, and articles produced by local storytellers.

We’re not just telling stories — we’re building a creative ecosystem that keeps regional creators in the regions. Filmmakers, photographers, and writers can now collaborate, upload, and publish their work without leaving their communities.

Our goal is simple: To make sure the digital landscape reflects the full, vivid spectrum of regional life.

We’re engaging other regional content creators to join us — not just as contributors, but as collaborators and champions of this new storytelling movement. Together, we’re building something that belongs to everyone who’s ever called the bush home.
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More Than a Series — It’s a Bridge

What I’ve learned through years of working in and with regional Australia is that storytelling can do more than entertain. It can bridge divides. It can help someone in Sydney understand what life is really like in the Pilbara, or show a young girl in a small country town that her voice — her face, her ideas — belong on screen too.

That’s the true purpose behind both Regional Stories and You Can’t Do That in the Bush.
To elevate voices that have long been overlooked.
To inspire people to see themselves reflected in the media they consume.
And to remind the rest of the country that innovation, leadership, and creativity thrive just as fiercely in the bush as they do anywhere else.
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Stories with Heart, Stories with Purpose

Over the next 12 months, our team will be travelling right across Australia — capturing the pulse of regional life in all its forms. From artists to farmers, engineers to environmentalists, we’ll meet the people rewriting what it means to live and lead outside the city.

Each story is personal. Each place is unique. And every single one of them matters.

For me, this isn’t just filmmaking. It’s coming home — over and over again.
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‍Watch, Share, and Be Part of It

You Can’t Do That in the Bush is now live — with the first episodes streaming on YouTube.
Plastic Fantastic and Threads of Culture are just the beginning of what we hope will become a national movement of regional storytelling.

You can also explore more stories, or join as a contributor, through Regional Stories — where we’ll continue curating and creating digital content that celebrates the spirit of regional Australia.

Because not all big ideas are born in a boardroom.
Some are born in the bush.

Watch the series: YouTube – You Can’t Do That in the Bush
Connect with us: www.blueclay.com.au | www.regionalstories.com.au
Follow the journey: #BushBrilliance #YouCantDoThatInTheBush #RegionalStories

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