26/05/2026
Loved watching his Shows 🙌🔥
Major Les Hiddins, born Leslie James Hiddins in Brisbane in 1946, became one of Australia’s most respected bushcraft experts through his extraordinary combination of military experience, survival knowledge and deep appreciation for the Australian landscape. A retired Australian Army major and Vietnam veteran, Hiddins completed two tours of duty in Vietnam between 1966 and 1968, serving initially as a forward scout in the infantry before transferring to army aviation. His work flying helicopters across remote northern Australia sparked a lifelong fascination with survival in the harsh outback environment. During these years, he learned extensively from Indigenous Australians, particularly in Arnhem Land and Cape York, gaining invaluable knowledge about native plants, bush medicine and traditional food sources that had sustained Aboriginal communities for thousands of years.
Hiddins later became widely known across the country as “The Bush Tucker Man” through the hugely popular ABC television series that aired from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Travelling across deserts, rainforests, coastlines and remote wilderness areas in his trademark slouch hat and Land Rover, he introduced Australians to the remarkable variety of edible plants, animals and survival techniques found in the bush. His calm manner, dry humour and genuine passion for the land made the programme both educational and deeply entertaining. Unlike many television personalities, Hiddins earned admiration through practical expertise rather than performance, and viewers appreciated the authenticity he brought to every episode.
Beyond television, Hiddins made lasting contributions to Australian survival research and education. In 1987, he received a Defence Fellowship to research survival techniques in northern Australia and became the principal author of the Australian Army’s survival manual. The same year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the military in the field of combat survival. He also authored numerous books on bush tucker, exploration and Australian history, helping preserve traditional knowledge for future generations. Even in later life, Hiddins has remained passionate about educating Australians about the natural environment, continuing to share his knowledge through books, interviews and digital projects devoted to the unique resources of the Australian bush.
Old photo archive 🙌
