Keyline and Fertile Futures

This paper discusses Australian Dr Neville Yeomans[1] life experiences that guided and informed his evolving of the Fraser House therapeutic community psychiatric unit in 1959 in North Ryde, Sydney, NSW and his later outreach. The precursors of Yeomans’ way of thinking, processing and acting are traced firstly to the pioneering work of Neville’s father Percival A. Yeomans[2] who was described by the world famous English agriculturalist Lady Balfour in the 1970’s as the person making the greatest contribution to sustainable agriculture in the past 200 years (Mulligan and Hill 2001, p. 194). The chapter details the influence on Nevilles father’s evolving of Keyline, a set of processes and practices for harvesting water, generating new vibrant topsoil and creating sustainable agriculture. It also traces the influences on Neville Yeomans and his father of their relating with Australian Aboriginal and Islander people. As well Neville’s East Asia influences are discussed.