Nicole and Brendan, a couple from New Zealand who grew up on family farms, moved to Australia in 2018, with Brendan having first arrived in the early 2000s. After visiting Australian dairy farms on a scholarship farm tour, Brendan fell in love with the industry in Australia and decided to move, eventually meeting Nicole and convincing her to join him.
The couple started their Australian farming adventure on Brendan's father's farm near Maffra. Their arrival coincided with the last year of a drought, which presented significant challenges but also taught them valuable lessons in adaptability in farming practices. “We found this season isn't necessarily going to be the same next season. If payout drops, it turns to drought…you've got to kind of adapt to suit.”
2022 was a period of expansion and extending finances for Nicole and Brendan. Not long after successfully purchasing their own farm, they found a way to incorporate a second lease into their operation despite initially thinking it was unfeasible. “April 2022 and I'm just like, ‘We can't make that work.’” Not only did they find a way to make it work but by the end of that year they had stretched their resources to the limit, buying yet another property – taking their operation to 3 dairies milking 1600 cows.
Owning a farm changed their business dynamics; share farming became less practical. Despite the complexities, they committed to running all three farms, supported by a strong team. However, as cow prices fell and export markets crashed, they encountered financial stress, creating a tough situation over several months. “It's been hard work…definitely the last few months we're probably being a little bit extra niggly at each other.”
Despite the pressure, Nicole and Brendan remain positive, driven by their end goal and the ability to plan through difficult cash flow periods. They take pride in what they've built and where they are heading. Nicole acknowledges the high levels of stress, but feels “it would be a lot different than if you're stuck in the middle of a drought and you're just like, ‘when on earth is my payout going back up or when is it going to rain?’”
Whilst admitting that her stress management strategy is unsustainable long term: “I'll be the first to admit I don't probably deal with stress in a healthy way.” Nicole is taking steps to improve her stress management by seeking professional help, equipping her with better tools whilst remaining 100% committed to the success of their farming ventures. “We're proud of what we’ve built and where we're going. I think that's what keeps driving us to get through the stress.”
Ultimately it is the strength of their partnership, where each partner supports the other whilst individually specializing in their areas of expertise, which culminates in their success as a team in the challenging world of dairy farming.
]]>Since 2007, Mark has been battling mental health periodicially, an ordeal that has significantly impeded his ability to oversee his dairy farm, compelling his wife Lisa to assume a more significant role.
Mark's dedication to dairy farming is rooted in a lifetime within the farming community. However, reoccurring bouts of mental health have cast a shadow on his ability to maintain this commitment. Lisa's narrative begins with a recount of a harrowing incident in 2007, amidst a drought, when Mark's erratic behaviour whilst driving the herd into the yard signalled a deeper issue. “It wasn’t until that point, I went, ‘something’s majorly wrong.’” This realization was a watershed moment for Lisa, who was then forced to recalibrate her role within the farm and their family life.
The farm's daily operations, which never halt, exacerbated Mark's condition, particularly during the intensive periods of calving and feeding cows. Lisa, observing the cyclical nature of Mark's mental health, stepped in and assumed responsibility for making crucial decisions about the farm's operations, “My role changed a lot. I had to. It took me a long time to accept that he couldn't make decisions.”
Lisa's transition from partner to leader and caretaker has been a formidable challenge. She has had to adapt to reading the nuances of Mark's mental state, recognizing the signs of his depressive episodes. His behavioural changes became indicators for Lisa to provide the necessary support. “You can pick up little signs now. He goes away from the farm fast. He comes back to the farm really slow. And I know that sounds really bizarre, but you just pick it up.”
Support for Mark also comes from his friends, who can detect shifts in his demeanour, particularly when he becomes withdrawn—a contrast to his otherwise social and lively personality. It’s in sharing experiences with friends who have faced similar challenges that Mark feels is his most useful coping mechanism.
Their story encapsulates the harsh reality of mental health issues that arise within the dairy industry—a profession that allows very little respite for personal afflictions. Lisa's resilience and adaptability underscore the silent crisis many farm families face when mental health issues surface. The financial worth of the farm becomes inconsequential when the farmer's wellbeing is at stake, “If you haven't got your health, you got nothing.”
Mark and Lisa's experience sheds light on the personal sacrifices and adjustments farm families often make when facing mental health issues. It shows that while farming requires constant dedication, the well-being of the farmer is the cornerstone that supports the enterprise's success. As Lisa poignantly notes, wealth is meaningless without health, a maxim that resonates deeply within the agricultural community and beyond.
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Jason and Deena's transition from the cabinet-making industry to dairy farming was born out of a desire for change and a more fulfilling lifestyle. Disheartened by the shrinking market for Australian-made furniture, Jason was driven to re-evaluate his career. Taking a leap of faith, he immersed himself in an agriculture course, which sparked a newfound passion that was soon shared by Deena. With no prior experience in farming, they dove into the dairy industry, eager to learn and grow.
Their dedication quickly paid off as they ascended from novices to eventually partnering in a share-farming opportunity with an expanded operation of 1500 cows and a team of ten staff. This drastic life change was not just about business—it was about shaping a new identity and creating a space where their family could thrive.
Arguably the biggest hurdle they have had to face came when their rotary dairy’s platform, complete with a full complement of cows aboard, collapsed on New Year's Day. “I walked into the dairy. I didn't know whether to cry or…I just turned around and we rang the other owners in New Zealand, and said, ‘This is what's happened.’”
In the face of this disaster, Jason and Deena's response was swift and decisive. They orchestrated the relocation of 1450 cows in a single day, a feat that would daunt even the most seasoned farmers. Their rapid mobilization and clear-headed problem-solving minimized the downtime to just a week.
But the hardship was far from over, with the platform collapsing a second time, the traumatic ordeal had to be re-lived, demanding yet another herculean effort to move and manage the cows. “It was a rough year from January when the platform first fell. I can't even explain to anybody that doesn't know…how hard it is to move that many animals.”
The stress of these back-to-back crises culminated in Jason suffering a minor heart attack, a stark indication of the immense pressure they were under. Despite this, their resolve didn't waver. Deena, in particular, showcased formidable strength and management prowess, ensuring the farm's operations continued while supporting Jason through his recovery. Together, they not only faced adversity but emerged stronger from it.
Now, a decade into their dairy farming venture, they reflect on their journey without a shred of regret, only wishing they had embarked on it sooner. “People say you're born to do something, and I reckon this was it for me. All of it. It's stressful, but I love it.” It's a life where their children learn the value of hard work on the farm, surrounded by animals and the freedom of the countryside.
Jason and Deena have become symbols of resilience, illustrating the extraordinary things that are possible when passion is combined with perseverance. Through collapsed platforms, staffing challenges, and health scares, they've maintained their humour, their love for the farm, and most importantly, for each other, proving that together, they can overcome any obstacle.
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Trev has recently made a transition from beef to dairy farming in pursuit of more stable finances and the potential to expand his farm. Incredibly, the journey from beef farming to milking his first dairy cow took less than a year, including the acquisition of a whole new herd and building a new dairy.
This capacity to embrace change served Trev well some years earlier, during a period of personal tragedy with the sudden loss of his father to a brain aneurysm in 2015. Trev was in the process of completing his building apprenticeship, a choice encouraged under his father’s guidance, when he was faced with this life-altering event. His father's unexpected death occurred rapidly and under dire circumstances, leaving Trev with a heavy heart and a choice to make. “I just wanted to take over and I just didn't want to go anywhere else really. Just wanted to come back to the farm and run it.”
The loss of his father not only compelled Trev to step back into the farming life but also instilled in him a resolve to continue the legacy left behind. Reflecting on what his father's advice would have been had he lived longer: “His life got cut short…it would have been nice to get a bit more information out of him before he did go. He always said the farm will be here if you ever want to come back to the farm. He’d be looking down…he was always supportive.”
With his mother’s support, Trev returned to the farm and aligned it’s focus toward breeding beef cattle which they successfully managed for the next 8 years before embarking on the transition to dairy in 2022.
Despite a calm demeanour, Trev concedes that he deals with considerable stress. He confesses to being a 'massive stress head' putting undue pressure on himself and ruminating over things unnecessarily. “I just get a myself revved up before doing things, and then it’s just fine when I do them. Just comes in whirlwinds.”
He manages to navigate through these stresses with the support of his mother and wife, Sofie, whose roles in his life he cannot overstate. “Mom's been unreal. I couldn’t have done it without her support. And Sofie, her support. They’ve both been unreal…I wouldn't be here without them two.” Their unwavering support has been a cornerstone of his ability to cope and thrive despite the pressures and grief he has faced.
Trev's story is not just one of career shifts but is a poignant narrative of perseverance and resilience in the wake of loss, underscored by the strength derived from family support. His success in dairy farming and his capacity to withstand and adapt to life's challenges are testaments to the enduring influence of his father's memory and the relentless support of the women in his life.
]]>Les and Lynne's foray into dairy farming began in 1997, driven by their son’s ambition to become a dairy farmer. Despite their son's career change, the couple, now nearing their seventies, have stayed the course, amassing over 25 years in the industry. A recent land acquisition has them thinking about retirement, but not before they’re ready to downsize from their current 570 head dairy operation.
Lynne speaks candidly about the prospect of retiring: “I don’t want to be farming when I’m 80. But, people say that all of a sudden when you stop milking cows…it’s like ‘What am I going to do?’ I reckon a lot of farmers have real trouble...coping with retirement.”
For now, the couple like to maintain active roles within their operation. Despite employing several staff to deal with the day-to-day tasks, Les rounds up the milkers most days and Lyn involves herself with their extensive calving program along with managing the books.
When asked what they felt were the biggest challenges in the industry, Les was quick to highlight the financial difficulties that they’ve had to overcome, none more challenging than the infamous farm gate price cuts in 2016. “Debt, that’s the hardest thing…it’s bloody stressful. I reckon 2016 probably set us back 6 years. I couldn't do nothing.”
Throughout this period they had to adopt a "drip feeding" approach to manage their debts, carefully prioritizing which bills to pay when income was short. Lyn recounts the unenviable task of calling creditors: “It was hard, but I found that as long as you are honest with them and work with them, then they'll work with you.”
Their resilience through these challenges is evident. Les and Lyn have never considered giving up, even when confronted with the stresses of financial management and the burdens it brought.
This mindset is derived from a simple philosophy based on communication and the willingness to build solid support networks. “You got have good people around you. We've got really good staff. I look after them, but they look after me as well. You know, you got to have it both ways.” Curating a positive attitude is as much about choosing the right relationships for Les. “Don't even talk to anybody that's negative. You got it. It comes down to negative for me. It does. Walk away.”
Their story is not just about dairy farming but also about perseverance, the importance of planning and community, and the need for a positive outlook on life. As they look toward retirement, Les and Lynne continue to embody the values of hard work and resilience that have defined their time in the industry.
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Shelley exemplifies the tenacity and heart often found at the core of the dairy industry. In light of the round-the-clock nature of dairy farming, she juggles the relentless demands of her family's century-old dairy operation in Yarram with the essential care required by her son Nathan, who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Nathan's reliance on a wheelchair and need for assistance with daily activities adds an additional layer to Shelley's demanding schedule. Despite these challenges, she navigates the farm's needs with a willingness to implement new strategies, aiming to create a more balanced approach to living on the land.
Her life took a drastic turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2021. Undergoing 14 rounds of chemotherapy, Shelley faced the physical debilitation that comes with such an aggressive treatment regimen. During this time, her resilience was tested as she balanced her health needs with the operational demands of calving, milking, and managing farm staff. “For the first four days (post chemo) I was just on the couch, couldn't do anything and I couldn't even go outside because the sun would burn me. I just physically couldn't do it. I was that exhausted.”
The cancer battle was a pivot point for Shelley, leading to an invaluable shift in her approach to managing the dairy farm. She learned the power of delegation, bringing in additional milkers and relying more heavily on her support team including her mother who’s help with Nathan was invaluable during this period.
This step back also brought a shift in perspective on time and urgency, leading to a more sustainable approach to farm management. The realization that not all tasks require immediate completion allowed for a healthier work-life balance and underscored the importance of prioritizing tasks effectively. “I've learned that things can actually wait till tomorrow. They don't have to happen today.”
This change in mindset extended beyond farm management to personal life as well. Shelley and her family, found solace and recreation in small yet significant traditions like spending time at the bar in their impressive self-built pub and enjoying camping trips by the river. These leisure activities became integral to their routine, emphasizing the importance of quality of life alongside work. For Shelley, a balanced approach is essential for long term success. “You've got to have a job that you don't need a holiday from I reckon.”
Shelley's narrative is an inspiring testament to the robust spirit necessary in the dairy industry. Her adept handling of a large-scale dairy operation, despite the personal trials of her son's disability and her own health challenges, showcases an impressive capacity for resilience and adaptability. Her experience underscores that with the right mindset and support, it's possible to navigate the toughest times while still finding joy and fulfillment in both the demanding work of dairy farming and the invaluable moments spent with family.
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Kate's journey from off-farm career to farm ownership was driven by a desire to live a purposeful life and set a meaningful example for her children. Kate and Peter purchased their farm in October 2003, a venture that began almost in tandem with the birth of their eldest son Angus. Fast forward nearly 20 years, and Kate shares a candid reflection on their life choices, in particular her changing response to adversity, exemplified by her experiences with two significant floods.
In June 2007, a catastrophic flood caused extensive damage to their property, an event that came at a time when Kate was heavily pregnant with their third child. The sight of their farm in ruins, fences down, and widespread damage was overwhelming for Kate. The magnitude of the tasks ahead, compounded by her physical state and the responsibilities of caring for her family, led to an intense feeling of helplessness. “In every direction was work. And it just overwhelmed that I could never do enough work to get it all done.”
Fast forward 16 years, when a similar flood event occurred in 2023, Kate's reaction was markedly different. The once overwhelming tasks were now met with a calm, methodical approach. “This time was like…just like a start. Doesn't matter how long it takes. You only have to get one paddock a day done.” The cows would be fine as long as there was one secure paddock each day. This shift in perception from an overwhelmed mindset to one of resilience and composure speaks volumes about Kate's growth in dealing with adversity.
What brought about this change? Kate recalls 2007 and how her focus was narrow—centred on the immediate needs of feeding, clothing, and cleaning her babies while relentlessly pushing to get farm work done. It was a life lived in a survival mode: physically demanding, mentally draining, and emotionally taxing.
Kate's personal development since then is remarkable. She has come to recognize the significance of balance between action, thought, and emotion. Learning to acknowledge her feelings, rather than being solely driven by a sense of duty or the urgency of production, has been transformative. This holistic awareness has allowed her to view the same situation—a flood and its resultant destruction—through a lens of manageable challenge rather than an overwhelming crisis.
This emotional and psychological growth is intertwined with a shift in farming philosophy. Kate sees farming as a contribution to the earth, an act of stewardship that is fulfilling on both an environmental and personal level. She sees her regenerative farming method as a gift, a sustainable practice that nourishes both the land they farm and her own well-being, allowing her to face adversity with a resilient and heart-centred approach.
]]>Hannah, a 21-year-old who has navigated the turbulent waters of depression and anxiety, has found solace and a sense of purpose in the dairy industry. Her mental health journey, which began with struggles that went undiagnosed during her teenage years, reached a critical point around her 19th birthday. Living away from home, her relationships began to suffer as a result of her mental state and antisocial behaviour. It was a friend's candid confrontation about her behaviour that became the catalyst for Hannah to seek help. “He said ‘This isn't right. You need to do something and I'll help if you want.’ He was a good pushing force to go and get on the meds and go to the therapy.”
This marked the beginning of a significant change in Hannah's life. She started therapy, got on medication, and took steps to take better care of herself. The road to recovery was not smooth, but Hannah persevered, making positive lifestyle changes such as cutting out drinking and embarking on solo car trips to gain clarity and peace. “It wasn't like a dream straight away…but it sort of got me in a good enough headspace that I sort of realized ‘I will come out of this.’”
Striving to repair and strengthen tattered relationships and reconnect with her family featured prominently in her recovery “I just tried to see mates that were good for my headspace at the time and fix the relationships.”
Hannah now speaks openly about her mental health struggles. She recognizes that discussing her issues could have mitigated the pain she caused to her loved ones and herself. Now, she understands the importance of communication in dealing with mental health. “Looking after your mental health, I guess it's just about…you have to know when to say it's too much for you.”
What has particularly aided in her recovery is her work on a dairy farm. The hands-on nature of the work, the variety of tasks, and the close care for the animals provide a daily routine that nurtures her well-being. She also emphasizes the need to have good friends and to stay active socially, especially because farming often requires working on weekends and can lead to feelings of isolation.
Hannah's story is one of overcoming adversity through the support of friends and finding a sense of balance and happiness in her work. It highlights the significance of seeking help, the therapeutic power of working with animals, and the crucial role of maintaining an active social life. Her experience serves as an inspiration to others facing mental health challenges, demonstrating the importance of community, open dialogue, and finding joy in one's everyday environment.
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Paul began his career on the family farm before transitioned to share farming, and eventually into management to better balance work with his expanding family. Unfortunately, the relentless pace took a toll on his marriage, leading to its eventual collapse. Despite the breakdown, Paul found ways to structure his weekends, allowing more to spend time with his children and in his words “turned a negative into a positive because that’s the way I roll.”
The true test of Paul's mettle came when he unexpectedly gained full custody of his children, aged between 8 and 15 at the time. Overwhelmed, Paul leaned heavily on family and friends for support “I still remember one day I was just in a spin…I was like, panicking and luckily, I had some really good support. Family…you know, and friends, like I just relied on those.”
Amidst this personal upheaval, he continued to manage the dairy farm, thanks to the incredible support from the owners. They accommodated his new circumstances, allowing him to focus on being a full-time dad while still overseeing the farm operations.
His daughter Julia's admiration for her father is clear: “Can I just say amazing job? He raised five kids for six years..the whole thing, coming in, cooking for us every night.. And he did all the washing, like, everything, the whole thing. Super amazing.”
His candid nature and proactive approach in seeking assistance when necessary were instrumental in managing his dual responsibilities. “I’d always ask for help if I felt like I was struggling, I'd just ring someone…the family were all behind us. I kept them fully in the loop of what was happening. There's no good keeping it to myself because they would have thought, something's wrong with him.”
In reflecting on his journey thus far, Paul attributes his success to the love he holds for his work. “I just think you've got to just enjoy what you're doing and not get hung up when it goes wrong.” He also credits his sense of humour as a liberating means of reframing heavy situations, allowing him to face problems with a lighter heart.
The unique flexibility of dairy farming also proved crucial in facilitating Paul’s ability to juggle work and family. “I think if I was in any other industry…I wouldn't have been able to do it. I still remember doing the dishes, looking out the window and seeing that the cows are in the wrong paddock. Get on the phone to someone and sort it out, crisis averted. There's not many industries where you can sort of pull that off.”
Paul's narrative goes beyond the mere act of balancing his professional and personal life; it speaks to the profound impact of maintaining a hopeful perspective and the willingness to adapt to whatever challenges life presents. His story showcases capacity of the human spirit to thrive amidst adversity, fortified by a sense of humour, community support, and a commitment to family unity.
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Michelle and Michael’s dairy operation is a prime example of how two contrasting styles can merge to create a successful farming enterprise. From a story that began between a young beef farmer on exchange and an academic with a rich family farming tradition, they have managed to navigate the ups and downs of farm life through comprise, persistence and community support.
The transition of Michael's family farm from beef to dairy coincided with Michelle's decision to make a permanent move to Australia. “It was a bit strange to think about actually moving to Australia. That was quite foreign and unexpected.” Thankfully she had the support of her Canadian community back home, whose symbolic gifts of a custom portrait and hand-made quilt serve as beautiful reminders of her heritage.
Adjustments were required early on for Michelle, who’s familiarity with Canada’s shed-based dairy farming, was not yet accustomed to the often rain-sodden paddocks of Gippsland. Michael chuckles recalling her first calving season: “She got stuck walking across the paddock and left the boot stuck in the mud. She couldn't believe that we would try and have cattle calving in these conditions and not in the shed.”
The couple’s union is a balance of give and take. Michael is more involved with the day-to-day physical tasks, while Michelle, who’s work sees her spend a lot of time off farm, brings her academic expertise to the genetic, breeding and managerial aspects of the business. “I think we worked out pretty early on that we probably aren't great at working side by side like 24 seven…figuring out each other’s strengths and weaknesses…it's going to work much better.”
Their story is not without its share of typical farming challenges—climate volatility, price instability, and the constant juggle of farm management. Yet, their perspective remains that these challenges are intrinsic to the allure of dairy farming. “That’s probably what makes dairy farming in many ways.
If it was easy, lots of people would be doing it.”
As well as participating in dairy discussion groups, a strong local community has been a significant support system for them, providing a network to lean on during tough times. “We've been really lucky in terms of having a very strong community around here. When things get tough, you know, those are the people that you kind of turn to…talk things through…and try and sort it.’
Whilst the couple jokes about their contrasting personalities: “Michelle does get things organized and is more time efficient. And whereas I'm a lot more laid back about time.” They manage to complement each other beautifully, creating an operation which is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, pragmatism and academia, Canadian heritage and Australian practicality. Their story showcases how diverse skills and personalities can come together to navigate the complexities of farm life successfully.
]]>Paul and Louise's dairy farming journey can be characterized by resilience amid adversity. Long before dating apps were the norm, Louise’s reply to a "find a farmer a wife" segment in a national magazine set them on a path of partnership, not only in life but also in business. Their agricultural venture has seen them through various lease arrangements, culminating in the recent acquisition of their own property—a milestone that has brought them both security and flexibility.
Central to their struggles were the financial pressures that came with a crash in milk prices. They experienced not one, but two severe crashes, the first occurring just after they had entered a partnership to buy a farm. This event heralded the onset of what Louise describes as the most stressful period of their lives: “We were operating two farms then and It was just super stressful.”
The impact was so severe that they ceased milking at their primary location and had to switch suppliers at the new venture to stay afloat. It took them nearly three years to regain profitability after this setback. “I think for two and a half years every single month, he'd (Paul) would be like, ‘who do I pay this month or how much do I pay this month or how much do I pay next month?’’’ The stress of these years took a considerable toll, eventually forcing them to exit their second venture.
Paul and Louise have come to accept the cyclical nature of farming, understanding that good and bad years are part of the journey. “That's farming for you…you're going to have good years, you're going to have bad years. Staff wise, money wise…you take the high with the lows….You've got to stick in it for the long haul because there's no quick money, no. You've just got to ride it out, you've got to pepp each other up when they're down.”
To offset the isolated nature of farming, Paul participates in a discussion group, which offers a valuable outlet and a sense of solidarity with others facing similar challenges. “Just to get out of your little space and go and talk to other people and see what they're doing and find out that they're probably in the same boat as you. That helps.”
Balancing farm work with family life has been another challenge they have addressed. Hiring a full-time employee has allowed Paul more time to spend with his growing children and has opened up opportunities for the family to engage in one of their shared passions: travel.
Paul and Louise's story is emblematic of the resilience required in the face of the farming industry's volatility. Their experiences underscore the necessity of adaptability, support systems, and the pursuit of balance between work and family life.
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Paul and Maree's journey through life has been one marked by the kind of tragedies that can either break a person or forge them into a figure of immense resilience. Their story starts with shared knowledge of grief. Maree lost both her mother and step father in a joint suicide as a teenager, then losing her partner Brad to a sudden heart attack. Whilst Paul’s wife Christie, died from a long battle with breast cancer. This shared experience of loss became a touchstone for their reconnection after many years. It was through mutual support and understanding that they turned their friendship into a comforting partnership over meals of dinner, rather than coffee.
Together, they welcomed a child, Henry, into their lives. He has been completely adored and spoilt by all of his older siblings. But joy was quickly followed by sorrow when Paul’s son, Callum, tragically died in a car accident—a heartbreaking event that threw the whole extended family’s world into turmoil.
Both have faced having a child each with serious medical conditions, resulting in many trips to Melbourne for care and treatment, that is still ongoing today.
The couple’s approach to dealing with such relentless adversity is deeply grounded in practicality and open communication. They find solace in working hard, staying busy and caring for their children, allowing them to focus on life's demands instead of being consumed by grief.
Whilst the pain of loss is ever-present, they strive to maintain a semblance of normalcy, discussing their feelings and memories whenever they surface, reinforcing their bond.
Paul admits to struggling with discussing his late son Cal, especially when it comes to the emotional aspects of his grief. Despite this, he and Maree maintain a policy of honesty and openness—if others inquire, they're prepared to talk about their experiences, though they guard their deeper emotions.
Henry, their young son, has been an unexpected source of strength and focus. His boundless energy and the demands of parenting him provide a necessary distraction from their grief. Others often express amazement at their ability to cope, but for Paul and Maree, it's not about coping with what they've endured, but rather striving towards a goal, towards what they want from life. “It's not about what you've been through…you can still honour the life that's been lost, but you still need to focus on yours as well.”
Their resilience shines through in their daily routine, with both immersing themselves in farm work and family time.” We’ve also purchased a shop in Rosedale called Little Fox Collectables and we’ve created a clothing brand ‘Hunting Over Generations’ in honour of Cal”. “Without the support of our adult children, we would struggle keeping everything going. “
They embody the idea that grief is a process not of permanent stasis but of continuous movement, recognizing that life is about forward motion, and while they grieve, they also plan to live fully for a long time to come.
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Where is your farm located?
Denison.
How long have you been in the dairy industry?
I've been home since 2006 which makes it 17 years nearly.
What made you come back?
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to come home and give it ago. It was always an option that I had. I’m a builder by trade and I was living in Perth. Mum and Dad were working pretty hard, so I had the opportunity to come home and help out. I was like, ‘well if I don't do it now, I might never do it’. At 30 I came home and have given it a proper go and I went and did all the required training.
What do you love about being a dairy farmer?
I love growing grass, and turning it into milk, the science of how well they can go if you can look after them. Now that I’ve been home for a while, I feel more connected to the land and some of it's been in the family a few generations. I work on the farm with my partner, Jen and I’m in a really happy place right now in my life. We have fully embraced the dairy industry.
What gets you out of bed everyday?
I believe a good sleep is foundational to mental health, so that’s a priority to me. I love just walking out the back door and seeing the green paddocks and happy cows. It takes a lot of work, but we are responsible for the animals’ welfare. I’ve had times in my life where I didn’t get the juggle between career and family quite right, so I have had to make some tough choices to resign from certain vocations to ensure I can manage to be there for my family and have time to focus on my own mental health and such.
Well to juggle kids who live a couple of hours away, a dairy farm, a new relationship, and community/industry commitments… how do you do it?
I feel at times like I’m juggling eggs. I'll probably drop a few every now and then, but I hope to not crack any, I am trying to not put too many in the air at the moment. Dairy farming can be diverse enough without doing anything else!
How have you managed to stay sane and look after yourself through this time?
I have a great support team. I now have an amazing partner in Jen, and we work well together. I'm not afraid to be vulnerable and I talk about my challenges which I think is very important. It’s also important to listen to others and help where you can. I have learned along the way the importance of getting enough sleep, exercise and time out. For me, I try to start my day with three glasses of water and focus on achieving the goals I have set out for myself. Having a clear vision and making choices that will see that vision come to fruition is important to me. As a farmer I find time when I’m in the tractor to listen to mindset podcasts and keep myself above the line. It’s easy to fall below the line when grey clouds set in, but moving through this is about choice. It’s not always easy but I find that you grow through what you go through. Some of my biggest learnings have come from my toughest times.
Have you always been like that?
No, I have had days below the line, I have had to seek out people to talk to. Having good support, friends and family is very helpful.
Is there anything that you do physically to look after yourself, Ross?
I've gone back to trying to be consistent with non-work related exercise, I use a chiro and have regular saunas, I haven’t nailed a strict meditation practice, but can understand the benefits. There’s plenty of extra things I could do! Most books I listen to are about self-help and mindset, so I'm continually learning and growing.
So, when you're driving the tractor, for example, do you try to incorporate some breathing and learning?
Yeah, it's nourishing to the mind, but at the same time I’m physically working so it's awesome! And you get no interruptions. I'm obviously responsible for so many decisions, daily decisions, and this causes some mental fatigue at times. I love the simplicity of milking cows. I can’t leave in the middle of miking so I’m able to just be present. In other life situations, you can get caught up in your head, which is probably why I do listen to lots of podcasts and books and stuff like that.
It’s super interesting that you are so mindful about your personal inputs Ross.
I have my kids every second weekend and try to be my best for them, be present, to make the most of the 48 hours that I get with them. Farming gives me the ability to have flexibility. I always thought a farm was a great place for kids to grow up. Gratitude for me is a big thing. It's not always easy. It does take some tools to be grateful. If you're not getting anywhere with it, there might be a bigger problem. You know you've got to adapt, be able to deal with whatever the climate is throwing at you. The sun always comes up the next day.
]]>Their secret? A finely tuned work-life balance. Staff enjoy a rotating schedule that ensures they get both weekdays and weekends off, maintaining a healthy equilibrium. 🐄🌞
Tim, as a director and general manager, handles budgeting, strategy, planning, and risk management. His approach focuses on making the farm self-sustainable, so it can keep running smoothly even if he's not around.
But it's not just about the farm's success. Tim's journey is inspiring, he left his career as a valuer in Sydney to support his family. From managing the business end of things to fostering a positive work culture, Tim and his team have created something special. They even have their own branded shirts and jumpers!
Tim's story is a testament to dedication, resilience, and the importance of work-life balance in the farming world. Check out the blog to read the full interview 🐮👨🌾 #FarmLife #SuccessStory #WorkLifeBalance
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Where Is Your Farm Located?
Our farm is situated in Leongatha South.
How Many Cows Are You Currently Milking?
We are currently milking 1175 cows, along with 1500 head of beef and dairy replacements. Livestock income constitutes 20-25% of our total revenue.
People Often Wonder How You Manage Everything, Tim.
Managing our farm is made possible by our incredible team of staff, with over 100 years of combined experience. This includes a team member who has been with us for nearly 30 years, another for 20 years, and our farm manager for 11 years. What sets our workplace apart is the variation in work and shifts. Staff typically spend five to six hours milking, and then they have a couple of hours to focus on other farm tasks. We schedule heavier staffing from Tuesday to Thursday, as that's when we tackle most of the major tasks. This arrangement allows most of our staff to have both a weekday and a weekend day off, helping them maintain a healthy work-life balance.
How Many Staff Members Are Employed at Jelbart Dairy?
We have a total of 21 people employed at Jelbart Dairy, including myself.
Could You Tell Us About Your Role?
I serve as the director and general manager. My responsibilities encompass overseeing the farm from a big-picture perspective, which includes budgeting, financial projections, strategy development, planning, and risk management.
It's Evident That You've Structured Your Farm Business Efficiently.
Thank you. My goal is to make myself somewhat redundant in the operation. However, it seems like I'm becoming more deeply ingrained in it. In the event something happens to me, I want the farm to have a robust structure to continue running smoothly. I am fortunate to be surrounded and supported by competent individuals who know what they're doing. This includes my wife, brothers, our team of staff, specialist advisers, and contractors. We are also actively implementing policies and procedures to facilitate troubleshooting in my absence.
Have You Made Significant Changes in How You Run the Farm Compared to How Your Dad Managed It?
Not significantly. We've maintained a similar approach. We have a remarkable farm manager and staff who enable me to focus on the business and project aspects of the operation. We always strive to innovate and make the business more efficient and profitable.
Many Dairy Farmers Would Aspire to Have a Business Like Yours, Tim.
Managing a farm with numerous moving parts can be challenging, and our wage bill may be higher than many other farm businesses. However, this structure allows me to have a fulfilling life away from the farm, where I can spend quality time with family and friends. This is more valuable to me than simply increasing my income. It also fosters a more sustainable way of life and keeps our staff content, reducing staff turnover as we have more people working fewer hours, mitigating burnout.
What's Your Advice for Supporting People in Managing Their Mental Health?
Effective communication is paramount. I invest significant time in talking to and engaging with our staff. I strive to be approachable and available to everyone. If there's an issue, it's better to address it and work on finding a solution rather than bottling it up and waiting for it to become a problem. This principle applies to me as well. I have a network of people around me who serve as my sounding boards and emotional support.
Your Dad Would Be Incredibly Proud of You, Carrying on the Family Farm and Making It a Success.
Thank you, I believe he would be. I'm working to put my own mark on the business. My dad built this business from the ground up, and my aim is to refine it further. He faced numerous challenges in the early years as he established the business. Growth was difficult for a while because resources were tight, and we couldn't invest in the farm the way we wanted to. Fortunately, in recent years, we've had the revenue to address long-overdue repairs, maintenance, and capital expenditures. One of our priorities is to keep all our machinery updated and well-maintained to minimize staff frustration with breakdowns. Although things can still go wrong, there's a strong sense of staff morale, and I often find our team laughing and enjoying themselves in the lunchroom.
It Sounds Like You've Created a Fantastic Work Culture.
I believe so. We work diligently to foster and maintain a positive culture, and we take great pride in it. We deeply value our staff and want them to know that. We want them to look forward to coming to work and feel like integral parts of our team. To promote this sense of belonging and teamwork, we provide our staff with Jelbart Dairy shirts and jumpers. While these uniforms aren't mandatory, our staff seem to enjoy wearing them, and they take pride in representing our farm, often wearing their shirts at the local supermarket.
Their paths crossed through cattle shows, and they decided to take over Matt's family farm, despite its challenges. Support from both sides of their families proved invaluable. Before settling in Tarwin, the couple worked together in Northern Victoria, testing their compatibility as both life and business partners. Their love for the industry and the friendships they formed within the dairy community kept them motivated and dedicated.
Their journey took an unexpected turn when Matt experienced a car accident, leading to a series of health challenges. Despite initial misdiagnoses, Matt's perseverance and the support of friends and family led him through aggressive cancer treatment. Nicola stood by her husband's side while managing the farm and supporting him through his health battles.
The couple found strength in the unwavering support of their loved ones, and their passion for dairy farming kept them going. Events like International Dairy Week provided a sense of normalcy and inspiration for Matt to continue pursuing his love for the industry. Their story is a testament to the resilience of those in the dairy farming community and the power of love and friendship during life's most challenging moments.
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How did you get into dairy?
Nicola: I’m from Queensland originally and my parents have a predominantly Jersey herd where they milk 350 cows. Matt’s family were also dairy farmers from Nar Nar Goon, before his parents bought the farm where we are now. Matt used to be a full-time cattle fitter (clipping and preparing show and sale cattle) and would spend nine months of the year living out of a suitcase, working for people all over the world. He was probably the first person to make a career out of it in Australia.
It’s definitely a niche market and you’ve got to be self-motivated to be able to do it, which, if you’ve met him, you’d see he is very driven. He did that for about 15 years, and then came home. That was how we met, through showing cows. It was at about this point that we started to make some decisions about where we wanted to end up. Both sides of our families have farms, a very fortunate, yet also heart-breaking position to be in as, ultimately, someone had to make the decision to leave their family. At the time, choosing to take on Matt’s family farm was the right choice. It worked out for the best as my sister now runs the farm back home. Really, we are so lucky to have so much support from both sides of our family; farming isn’t easy, but it runs deep in the families and there’s always lots of advice.
I suppose too, before we had settled in Tarwin, we worked together in Northern Victoria and I think this was a sort of ‘cooling off period’ in our relationship, to see if we had, as a couple, what it takes to work side-by- side every day. We don’t take for granted the awesome people we have met and formed friendships with over our journeys, and thankfully, the world is not such a big place anymore. It’s the people in dairy, and the friendships that we’ve made over the years, that have kept us in love with the industry.
You’ve had a crazy ride with your health stuff, is that right?
It all happened really quickly, and looking back, which isn’t something we do often, is quite hard. Matt moved to the farm in Tarwin in early 2017 after being involved in a serious car accident, which seemed to be the catalyst for a lot of change in our lives. I moved down with a semi load of cows in tow in late 2017. We got married in November 2018, but Matt’s health wasn’t great, something we put down to stomach ulcers and stress. With low milk prices and tough seasons we just thought stress was taking its toll. Matt did end up in hospital before our wedding, a sign of just how sick he was, only to be told to grab some Gaviscon on the way home. The week after our wedding Matt’s mum (Jan), who is a nurse, made an appointment with their long- time family doctor and he referred Matt straight to a Gastric specialist. Within a week of seeing the specialist Matt had started chemotherapy. It was an aggressive
form of cancer and at that point in time Matt was the youngest patient in the hospital’s care to ever have that specific type of cancer. It was such a strange time; we had just had a massive party with all of our nearest and dearest to celebrate our marriage, and then, a month later, we were telling them all that Matt had cancer. Fortnightly chemotherapy sessions ensued until the tumour was reduced enough to be removed, followed by more chemotherapy. Matt was really ill, but the chemo did its job. The drugs and entire ordeal, facing your mortality, changes a person. Thankfully today he is up to annual check-ups with his oncologist.
How was this for you? You’ve moved to a new state, just got married, and now you’re supporting your husband through cancer and trying to keep the farm ticking over.
When you’re in the thick of it you just do what you have to. Between Bruce, Matt’s dad, and I, we managed the farm; we prioritised. It’s hard to convey the amount of support that people gave Matt and myself. I’d say the moment it really hit home for me, the seriousness of the situation, was when I sat next to Matt at an IVF clinic and watched him sign papers. In the event he didn’t make it, I still wanted to have his children. Driving home from the city, while Matt started his first chemotherapy session, was very lonely, (Matt stayed to have his PICC line, an IV line directly to the heart for treatment).
What got you through the hard times?
I think it was just having such good people around us. The timing of it all was just ironic, to be surrounded by love and joy at our wedding and then a month later to have the rug ripped from under us. For anyone who knows us well, a big calendar event for us is International Dairy Week. An event that Matt has been going to since he was 10. It’s held in January. We didn’t show cattle that year, the first time he hasn’t shown since he started going. But, he still made it to the show, and I still think, even though I had to twist his arm to go as he knew how people would react, and he’s not one for pity, I believe being surrounded by our great friends, and doing what he loves doing, took his mind off the cancer for a little while and gave him a level playing field. It lit that fire in his belly to get back to it. He also bought a cow at that show, one who the next year would win the whole thing! We truly are surrounded by wonderfully genuine people in our industry. It was our friendships that were essentially holding us together. Matt and I didn’t actually talk much about how he was going during his illness because he was talking about it to everyone else, if that makes sense. When he stepped into our home or into the dairy, it was sort of like his safe place away from all the talk.
The Farming Conversations 2023 is brought to you FREE by Gippsland Jersey, Connect Well, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Orbost Regional Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
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What area is your farm?
Merrlieu, just near Lindenow in East Gippsland.
How long have you guys been in the dairy industry?
I was born into it, but I did have 15 years out of it as an agricultural consultant and orchard developer, at the same time a beef and sheep farmer. I’m originally from Princetown, in southwest Victoria.
Tell me about your farm.
We have been certified organic for some time and we're hoping to be certified biodynamic very soon.
What was the decision for going biodynamic?
So, I already had the desire. I was an organic farmer, even though we weren't certified, it was our farming practices. At the time of the Murray Goulburn collapse we were share-farming with John Vardy on this farm for eight years. The crash affected us all and we were in trouble. I still to this day don't know how we negotiated out of the debt and everything that we were in at the time, but between that happening and now, we have managed to get back on track financially. Four years after the Murray Goulburn collapse, we were in a position to buy the farm and that’s all to do with us changing the way we farmed. I'd been slowly transitioning the farm since I arrived here, not always in agreement with John, but, given that we're on sheep country, the organic practices have allowed us to continue to make milk. We milk 600 cows with virtually no inputs. Most farmers want to be good stewards of their land and do the right thing by the grass, and the cows, and everybody wants to treat their calves well. For us, that's not using all the poisons that every salesperson is out to sell you. In our first year of being certified organic, we had the collapse of Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia, and we lost even more money than we did with the Murray Goulburn collapse. At one stage, when we lost $450,000, we kind of got up like nothing happened because we didn't have the input costs coming in, piling up the bills. We just knuckled down and got on with it. We lost $1,000,000 in milk payments in five years overall. However, despite this, we really have made our business sustainable and profitable by farming this way.
That's such a success story, isn't it?
Well, we think it is. You know, it's maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but it works for us. Every farm is different. We take pride knowing we provide premium milk for Australians and we stand by what we do as being environmentally friendly and sustainable. I just want to say Sallie, that one of the biggest motivations for this was that we would spend up to $700,000 in fertiliser every year, but we didn't want to put future financial stress on our children. If it won't grow here, we won't try and grow it. As a farmer you work with what you've got. You work with the soil. We try out different seeds and different pastures and we're always experimenting. When you find something that works, you go with it. We survived losing millions in milk payments, and we've stuck it out through the worst drought in recorded history. And we survived it too. Without any inputs!
You think other farmers would be really wanting to know how you did it?
Well, they don't tend to believe in it. Unless you've got the right mindset, you can't see it. There’s a lot of great salesmen out there all promising results from many products. I've had people tell me that they like my farming model and they want to pick the eyes out of it, and that's fine, but they don't have the balls to implement it and have faith in themselves that they can do it. And not many people in a bad financial situation have been prepared to go against the grain because they can't afford to; they can't afford to lose. We go organic for the higher milk money, we decided that we would like to get paid for what it is that we do.
What was your flick-the-switch moment?
For me it was when I was milking 1600 cows and every Monday a salesman/agronomist would call into my dairy demanding 10 minutes of my time, which I didn't have, so they could work out what they were going to make for the day or the month. One Monday morning I'd worked all weekend, and he decided to tell me all about his fabulous long weekend of holidaying with his all-expenses paid work car, and with his family (I don't begrudge this). When he drove out, I had a light-switch moment that no one cared about my farm or me, they just wanted to make a profit. So, that was when I decided that if it didn't grow here, I wouldn’t grow it.
Wow. That is a defining moment for you.
When he was talking to me it was painful to hear. Basically, I wasn't prepared to be in his pocket any longer. So, I decided that I needed to do something for my own mental health and my own well-being, and to make sure that this job was sustainable for the future of my family, because I couldn't continue as it was. I was told by Dairy Australia that we're not represented by them if we are organic dairy farmers in any way, shape or form. They asked me why it would be important for me to go organic, and I said ‘well, because if things go bad, people are going to be looking to people like myself, to find out alternative ways to farm their country with no inputs’. There needs to be support and having a knowledge group would be recommended.
How do you Keep your own mental health in check when you've been stretched and challenged?
I actually have to say that I personally don't feel as if I've had a mental illness day in my life. I mean, we've had stress for sure. We've got a son who's been affected with mental illness. That's been hard, and it’s really tested our mettle. During farm challenges I understand it's my created reality. I have put myself in this position, so I don't blame anybody else for me being here. It's what I wanted to do. There are always options, so, you know, the challenge to me is part of the experience of what farming is about.
We've actually been plagued by suicide here. It happened to one of my best friends who we’d been helping out, a farm manager who lived here in the house with his family, and other close friends in the district who have done the same, all over a five-year period. It affects the community, and it affects the children, and it affects everybody. But we certainly feel blessed that we've had this opportunity to help people as best we could.
Craig was saying you've got a daughter that might want to be a cheese maker one day?
She has a double science degree, so she is in the running. All our children have been employed on the farm. All have milked and all are capable of bringing something to the farm. Time will tell.
The Farming Conversations 2023 is brought to you FREE by Gippsland Jersey, Connect Well, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Orbost Regional Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
Grab your FREE 2023 “Farming Conversations” Calendar here https://bit.ly/3WGDRsq
]]>Where are you from Lauren and how long have you been in the dairy industry?
I grew up in Stratford and have been in dairy about eight years.
How did you get into dairy farming?
My sister had a milking job on a farm in Maffra and I forced her to take me along a couple of times and I enjoyed it. I did a fair bit of work experience throughout high-school on dairy farms and in Year 11 I took up an in-school apprenticeship, completing a Certificate III in Agriculture. Once I finished school, I went into it full time and I guess I’m still here.
What do you love about the dairy industry?
I love the cows and calves. I like watching their progress and growth and the quality of the animal at the end of the line; knowing that I was a part of that journey.
What’s your work situation now?
I currently work at CB Livestock and Property for Colleen Bye as a stock agent and livestock hand. I started working for her in April 2022 across her and her partner’s properties. She runs a small dairy farm as well as her own herd of Angus cattle. Lately, though, I have been more into the stock agent side of things, also helping out in the dairy as required.
Do you have a personal story that you are comfortable to share?
In 2020 my baby nephew passed suddenly which was heartbreaking for my family. I had personal struggles going on at the time alongside his passing, so I was trying to juggle all of these emotions, as well as having to work and pay the bills. It was a lot to handle.
Tell me about the fundraiser?
I supported a fundraising campaign for Heartfelt; a company that goes around to families who have lost newborns and take photos for free. They photographed my nephew. We all thought it was such a great cause to get around and promote. I feel, as a family, that’s the last thing you want to think about having to organise during such a hard time, but these photos are something we will cherish for the rest
of our lives. They’re beautiful. That whole time and situation, whilst devastating, has brought us closer together as a family without a doubt.
And what about you, Lauren? How are you?
During this time, I had sought out counselling to help deal with my emotions and grief, and the counsellor was really good. She helped me understand that I didn’t have to feel guilty for days that I felt happy. She helped me work through the emotions and figure out ways to cope with it. I think I’m going alright now, although there are still times where I get upset, but I think that’s normal.
You went to a counsellor, tell me about that experience?
I had stuff going on in my personal life that I was struggling with, especially with my mental health and mindset, so she helped me try and sort all that out too. I was seeing her for quite a while from what I can remember, not just during this time but before it as well. I was battling a bit of depression for a couple of years that I never really spoke to anyone about, that’s why I started seeing a counsellor in the first place. I don’t think it was necessarily anything specific. Just a lot of things going on in my life at the time and it was just too much for me to deal with and it sent me into a bit of a depression. Between having some unhealthy relationships, working a lot of hours, not getting time to myself, horrendous body image issues, and hating where I was in life, it all caused so many issues for me mentally. I just sort of got into a bit of a rut. I started questioning, ‘what am I doing? Why am I doing this job’? I think a lot of people unfortunately go through these thoughts in this industry; questioning if it’s all worth it.
Making a call to ask for help is big. How did you make that step?
After a few suggestions from friends, I made the decision that I needed to speak to someone and get help. I was sick of feeling a certain way. I knew my mindset was very poor and if it continued the way it was going, it wasn’t going to result in anything good. I didn’t really like people knowing, and still struggle with that, but I think it’s an important issue to be talked about and more people need to. There is such a stigma around it, especially in the agricultural industry; that farmers are seen as tough and as people who experience hardships without any emotional impact. Although farmers are some of the strongest people I know, bottling up these issues and emotions will never bring about a good outcome.
How do you manage yourself now? What tools are in your toolbox?
I reached a point in my career a year or two ago where I just couldn’t do dairy farming anymore. I quit my job because I wasn’t happy with my life, and I thought leaving dairy was going to fix all that. Then I found my job with Colleen and I haven’t had a bad day here since I started. Towards the end of 2021 I joined a 12-week mindset course. It focused a lot on how to heal past trauma, focusing on parts of yourself that you’re uncomfortable with and working out why and how to fix those issues. How to find the best version of yourself.
Tell me about Colleen.
She just appreciates her employees. She treats us as investments, not expenses. She values every single one of us as people and I think that’s a massive difference that sets her apart from other people in the industry. She is just a fantastic boss to work for and I think that made the biggest difference in my mental health. I love working for Colleen. Everything I do I enjoy. I can comfortably say she’s a massive inspiration to me; I aspire to be as humble and good at my job as she is and I hope one day I am at least half the agent and person she is
What makes Colleen such a rockstar boss?
Well, for example, we had had a massive day one day; I had to milk that afternoon and I ended up milking an hour and a half late. Colleen brought a drink to the shed and just chatted to me for a bit. Simple things like that. We’ll have team meetings at the office and have a beer. Every now and then I’ll pop into her house, and we’ll have a cuppa. She’s really welcoming and supportive. I know that if I’m struggling with something she’ll be there to help me in any way she can.
It goes a long way towards our mental health when we feel good about our job doesn’t it?
Feeling so valued makes you want to get up and go to work. It makes you want to put in effort, try hard, and know that you will be rewarded for it. Colleen has never let me down. I believed for a long time that I would never own a farm, that it wasn’t possible for me. However, since I started working for Colleen, she has really made me dream big and realise that dreams are achievable with the right support network. I think the moral of the story is, you get staff that love working for you if you invest in, and care for them.
Read the full interview and pick up a FREE copy of the Calendar here https://bit.ly/3JDOirk
The Farming Conversations 2023 is brought to you FREE by Gippsland Jersey, Connect Well, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Orbost Regional Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
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Many dairy farmers can relate to the relentless, all consuming nature that is dairy farming, and many other farming practices for that matter! Getting off the farm can sometimes feel impossible 'there's too much to do!', but it's so important in regenerating tired batteries and shifting your perspective on life and farming in general, so you can come back better than ever!
In this months Farming Conversations Calendar Belinda & Stu chat about how they make getting off the farm possible, innovations in dairy farming, the importance of your team, protecting their family time and how to stay married through the calving season! #AnyFarmerCanRelate
]]>Many dairy farmers can relate to the relentless, all consuming nature that is dairy farming, and many other farming practices for that matter! Getting off the farm can sometimes feel impossible 'there's too much to do!', but it's so important in regenerating tired batteries and shifting your perspective on life and farming in general, so you can come back better than ever!
In this months Farming Conversations Calendar Belinda & Stu chat about how they make getting off the farm possible, innovations in dairy farming, the importance of your team, protecting their family time and how to stay married through the calving season! #AnyFarmerCanRelate
You guys are the Barbie & Ken of the dairy industry! How do the pin-up couple of dairy do it?
Let’s talk about balance. Farming is such a team effort. We’ve worked really hard to achieve a work-life balance on the farm, but we don’t quite hit the mark every time.
I’ve noticed a bit of an air of arrogance on the socials lately, a shame culture in farming about leaving yourself any bandwidth to get a rest or have a break. We know that there are some non-negotiable periods in the season, where time off is pretty tough. We’ve just come through calving season, and we know that means eight to ten weeks of heads-down, bums-up, however, we still try to find an afternoon to get up into the hills for some snow play, or afternoon tea in the cubby with the kids.
We’ve achieved a lot in the last 70 something days without time off, that’s for sure. And of course, we’re proud. But I’m tired, Stu is tired, the kids are tired. We’re looking for the next break. We will strive for that time away from the farm, and make it happen.
Running until one of us breaks isn’t the right option for us.
If we’re still married at the end of calving season, we’re good for another 12 months!
That’s gold Belinda. This is how dairy farmers stay together, right? (What’s said in the calf shed, stays in the calf shed!)
How to stay together as a married couple and still be in love while milking 500 cows? “I’ll talk to you at the end of calving season,” is a line that we throw out every year. Don’t take it personal, (sometimes easier said than done) and know that you’re there for each other, even when things get heated. We have also moved to a 10 in seven milking regime, to help achieve balance for ourselves and our staff.
So, tell me about the reason behind this decision?
In 2016 we moved to once-a-day milking in response to lower milk prices and poorer seasons and it was a chance to have a go at something new. We knew there would be a reduction in production but aimed to balance that against lower costs as well as more time with our growing family. After five years of once-a-day milkings we came across a webinar that discussed 10 in seven milkings, and this set us on the path of analysing our business structure, farm performance and staffing levels. The result was that 10 in seven setup could be a good move and we kicked this off last season. We milk twice a day on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the other days we just milk once a day. Our aims remained the same as our move to once-a-day, balancing production against costs, getting cows in calf, and retaining our staff. We put a high value on not burning out our staff through busier times of the year, and we need to try and put this priority on ourselves as well.
Tell me about your farm.
We share-farm with Stu’s mum and dad. We watched a number of farms transition to once-a-day milking in our discussion group so were aware of some of the business numbers already. After running some budgets for ourselves we took the idea to the group to make sure they were achievable. Following the discussion with the group, the facilitating consultant asked Chris the question “you’ve been milking for the past 25 years twice a day, seven days a week and now your son and daughter-in-law want to change to once a day? How does this sit with you?” But Chris said, “why didn't I think of that?”
It's really nice to feel so supported in making decisions to change the way things have been in the past.
That's really cool.
We're pretty lucky! And here we are today, Stu and I, are still married, after another calving season!
The Farming Conversations 2023 is brought to you FREE by Gippsland Jersey, Connect Well, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Orbost Regional Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
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Is it true that your nickname is Sugar?
Yes, that's correct. I've had that since I was 14.
Where do you farm?
I only just recently moved back home to Marlo, July 2022. My plan was to move back here and have a break from the dairy industry, however an opportunity came up and we decided we might as well have a crack at it. We used to come back to Marlo on holidays over Christmas and it would make my family so happy, so I made a pretty bold move and brought everyone here. We’re in an environment where you can go to the beach, kids can ride their bikes around the town. The change in the kids has been phenomenal.
How did you get into dairy farming?
I undertook my apprenticeship on this farm where we are now, so I’ve come full circle. I’ve been in dairy for the best part of 20 years now.
What do you love about the industry? What keeps you in it?
I love the cows. I love every aspect of farming. I say to the kids, ‘if you can find a job where you don't feel like you work a day in your life, do that’! Obviously, as a farmer, you work your arse off, but if you feel like you don't go to work, then, to me, that's all you can ask for in a job. Obviously milking cows has its ups and downs, every day presents a different challenge. You're always learning something new, so yeah, that's what keeps me going. I suppose the day I stop learning is the day that I'll get out.
How many cows are you milking?
We’re milking 340.
You were previously farming on a pretty elite farm, right?
Yeah, I was there for five years, that was enough. I think if corporations take over the industry, we're all screwed to be honest. Small family farms should all help each other because at the end of the day we all get paid the same milk price. We're not in competition with each other. We need to get back to helping each other more; the blokes around here come and give me a hand moving and sorting cattle and I help them in return. That's how our grandfathers did it. Farmers are in their silos when we should be amongst our community; we’d have better mental health.
I've witnessed being down with depression and it's hard to get back out of it if you don't have that support around you. I’ve had times in my life when it’s been very dark. I went and saw professionals and they basically said to me if you can get out of bed, milk the cows, feed the calves, then go back to bed, you've done well for the day, and it’s a tick. You can keep going.
My mental health has been up and down, all over the place for many years. I got diagnosed with depression when I was about 28. I actually just broke down. I don't know what happened. I just started crying one night in the dairy and I couldn't stop. That's when I just thought, ‘shit, there's something not right here’. Mum and dad were a massive support. The psychologist said, ‘without the dairy industry, you probably wouldn't be here right now. The fact that you can get up, milk cows, even if you do go back to bed for the day, it’s kept you alive’. I also got on some medication and learnt some tools that I can use when I feel triggered. I'm not saying that I'm 100% over it, but I reckon I'm about 80% of the way there now compared to where I was.
What helps you get through the weeks ‘better’?
It might just be someone dropping in for a beer and saying, ‘everything’s gonna be OK’. Someone to share the problems with.
Has there been a moment in your life when you’ve had a tricky situation and thought you needed to change gears to get through?
There's been a lot of those situations. Just recently (November 2022) when the floods came and I had to watch all my hard work go underwater, that was bloody tough. Dairy farmers, Macca and Tim Barnes come around to help. We were all in the same boat and together we just talked about it. That made me feel less alone. It’s the mateship that keeps me being able to shift gears and keep going. I showed up to a couple of mates’ places in West Gippsland when they were down-in-the-dumps just to check up on them to make sure they were doing OK. A week later a message or call comes through from them to say ‘thanks heaps for that chat. You know, if it wasn't for you I probably would have pulled the pin on everything.’ What goes around, comes around and that's the way it should work here. As a farmer we work everyday of the week and it can be a real juggle to find family time. They say that a problem shared is a problem halved. We're not competitors. Let's be open about stuff, what's happening on the farm, and even with your personal life, because everyone farming is in a similar position.
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There are a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing milk. From plant-based alternatives to traditional cow's milk, there are many choices available. Jersey milk stands alone for its rich, creamy, and delicious milk that we have seen gaining popularity in recent years. Here are just a few reasons why Jersey milk might be a better choice for you:
1. Higher Fat Content
Jersey cows are known for producing milk that is higher in fat content compared to other breeds of cows. In fact, Jersey milk has up to 20% more butterfat than milk from Holstein cows. This higher fat content gives Jersey milk a richer and creamier taste, making it a great choice for use in coffee, tea, or other recipes that require a richer flavour.
2. More Nutrients
Jersey milk is also higher in nutrients compared to other types of milk. Studies have shown that Jersey milk contains more protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 than milk from other breeds of cows. Additionally, Jersey milk contains more beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function.
3. Better Digestibility
Many people who are lactose intolerant or have trouble digesting milk find that Jersey milk is easier to digest. This is because Jersey cows produce milk with a different type of beta-casein protein that is more easily broken down by our digestive system. Additionally, the higher fat content of Jersey milk can slow down the absorption of lactose, making it easier on the digestive system.
4. Local Sourcing
Jersey cows are a hardy breed that can thrive in a variety of climates, making them a great choice for local farmers. Supporting local dairy farmers who produce Jersey milk can help support local economies and promote sustainable agriculture practices. Additionally, buying local dairy products can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting milk long distances.
Jersey milk is a delicious and nutritious option for those looking for a higher quality milk. With its higher fat content, more nutrients, better digestibility, and local sourcing, Jersey milk is a great choice for anyone looking for a healthier and more sustainable option. So the next time you're at the grocery store, consider choosing our milk and taste the difference for yourself!
How long have you been in the industry John, and where do you farm?
I grew up on a dairy farm down in the western district, and then Lauren and I shifted home with her parents for seven years. Now we’ve owned our own farm for eight years in Denison.
How many cows do you milk?
400 this season.
And John, what struggles, or loves, do you have for the industry? What gets you out of bed in the morning, or frustrates you?
I enjoy working with cows. My strengths are with grazing and milking cows and caring for livestock in general. The climate challenge as we move forward is about increasing the capacity of our soils and soil function, nutrient cycling, carbon holding capacity, and water holding capacity. I’m finding that a challenge, but an exciting challenge to address.
It requires practice changes; new knowledge. It’s getting your team aligned with you because it requires a lot of time and energy, and you need a good team to work with in order to achieve it. Just continuing to build a business that has a positive impact on local communities and families. I care about river health and ecological outcomes also.
Well, you do a great job John. We had the conversation about how you employ your brother. We do feel an obligation to our siblings, in terms of giving them purpose. Your brother has a disability?
Well, certainly. My brother has the intellectual ability of a young boy. He loves to be involved and is very kind and caring. He contributes where he can. I often ask myself ‘what else can he do’? but he doesn’t want to milk cows anymore. So, we just sort of leave the door open and allow him to decide what he wants to do and support him in that. He has a team of people who he works with to support him with his needs at home.
So, he basically has an open door with you as to how involved he wants to be on your farm?
So, he does a 45-hour week, but his time isn’t always productive. He’s a big lad and this presents physical risks as well. We just have to come to the middle with some things.
Does Steve have a support worker on site or is that up to you?
No, no one is coming into the workplace to do anything. There’s always a lot of talk with his organisation, but you know, getting someone to actually deliver things is something else entirely. So, we just accept it and move on.
I can relate, John, because I have a brother with disabilities and he lives on the farm where the factory’s located. We have plenty of jobs that he could physically do, and that he’s very capable of, but it’s about finding that support worker that can match him.
I think in the disability sector we’ve got a skill shortage. We actually need more people, and people with intellectual disabilities have got a lot to give, but they do need the support. There’s just not enough people to support this and I feel that a number of the people in there aren’t really suited to the role.
And do you think your brother could achieve more if he had the right support people that were farm orientated and skilled in dairy?
I think so. He just doesn’t seem to be interested in doing a lot of the things that I can do with him. I would ideally need that other person to have a higher skill level to be able to guide him to do those things unaided by me so I can spend more time by myself getting things done. We would like to buy some more land. It’s also important for Steve to have some goals to work towards.
You think it would be a great reality TV show, The John and Steve Farm?
I think it would be. It can be quite funny. The other day Steve and a worker both got bogged in the same place within hours of each other and it’s just like, ‘why would you drive through there’? It is a bog hole! Yeah, it would be quite entertaining. I reckon there are many farmers that are in this similar position.
Where are your parents?
We’re fortunate where we live. We have two houses close to each other. Mum lives in one and the other one we live in and then we have another house on the other side of the farm where Steve lives. We are fortunate that we’ve got the support there. My dad has passed away. My mum has quite the story, actually. Mum, Denise and Phillip, her first husband, had my eldest brother and sister, but tragically Phillip passed away. Around 10 years later mum married our dad, Tom. They had Steve, myself, and then the twins, but unfortunately dad developed cancer and passed away while us four were still in nappies.
Mum and our older brother, Chris and sister, Cathy, with the help of a Nun, Sister Christene, raised us and operated the dairy farm for a few years. Mum met her third husband, Carey, a number of years later. They worked incredibly hard and established a farm stay business, as well as operating a dairy farm and raising us four kids, as well as contributing to his kids, and Chris and Cathy, where they could. Once us kids had finished school they separated. We lost the original family farm, and it took us a while to feel like we had a home again.
How do you manage yourself, your frustrations and your energies?
I do yoga twice a week, and mindfulness. It’s like raising kids, sort of, you just gotta. You can’t change what they do. So, often you just gotta change your expectations and set it up better the next time. You’ll find a way. Just carry on and say ‘well, alright, we did it that way, it didn’t work, we’ll try and do better tomorrow’. Steve teaches me a lot. I do find it difficult not having a very productive family relationship though, because of the work. He sometimes feels that I’m up against him, but the problem is I can’t just let him go and do it because it could be dangerous or overly time consuming and I don’t have much spare time in my day.
]]>"Every morning is a good day, Right? When I was 21 years old and coming to grips with my lost abilities I learned a hell of a lot about grit!"
Matt Willis has an incredible story and there’s not much he hasn’t faced! At 21 years of age he became an incomplete quadriplegic after a freak accident, keeping the farm going through the drought, then nearly losing the farm in the Black Saturday bushfires, his Mum being diagnosed with Huntingdon’s disease and then nearly losing his Dad in a truck accident. Despite his challenges Matt continues to farm and we think he has an incredible amount to say about mental resilience..
Where’s your farm located?
Carrajung South
Tell me about your farm situation?
I’m on the family farm that I grew up on.
I hear that you seem to have had every possible bad thing happen to you. Tell me about your story:
On January 1, 2004 I duck dived into the water while we were camped at The Barrier in Lakes Entrance. I was 21 years old at the time and I broke my neck. I am now an incomplete quadriplegic. I was in hospital and rehabilitation for around six months. At the time of the accident I only had six months of an apprenticeship left, which I’d left school to undertake.
In October 2004 I was able to be a groomsman at my sister Michelle's wedding and to help out with our farm’s harvest season. I have always had a tight bond with my brother in-law, Chook. He’s the one that saved my life; gave me CPR on the day of my accident. In 2006 we built a rotary dairy, purpose built for my disability, to help me milk the cows a bit easier, I couldn’t milk in the herringbone any longer.
After spending lots of money updating the shed, in 2007, we were hit with a drought. Then, in 2009, the Black Saturday bushfires came and we lost 150 acres of pasture and seven kilometers of fencing. We had to sell off cows to pay our bills; we simply couldn’t keep them. Then the big Murray Goulburn milk crash happened and the drought struck us hard. Soon after that my mum was diagnosed with Huntington's disease. She's a fighter, but life is tough for her. She has carers seven days a week. Just before last Christmas dad was in an accident with a Ken Worth truck coming back from Maffra. This really impacted his memory and he gets a bit frustrated these days.
On our farm we have the capacity for about 600 cows, however, at the moment we are milking 300 and have a share farmer. Milking is hard on my body, especially when it’s cold. I can tell you when it’s going to rain; about a week before it actually rains my joints start aching. I spend lots of my time in a tractor these days and we do a fair bit of contracting.
You probably could have given up so many times, Matt. Why haven’t you? What keeps you getting out of bed each day?
Every morning is a good day, Right? When I was 21 years old and coming to grips with my lost abilities I learned a hell of a lot about grit!
Do you have any tips or advice for anyone going through tough times?
Just to take every day as it comes. When I’m having a bad day I just go and do something else. Shift my mind.
So have you had any counselling for the traumas you’ve gone through? An accident, drought, bushfire, financial crash and your mum and dad getting sick/hurt is a lot to take on!
No, not really. Just talk to family and friends. When I'm having a bad day, and start cracking the shits with my legs, I’ve learned that ‘this time will pass’.
Is farm safety on your mind as you go about your day-to-day work?
Yeah, it's always in the back of my mind. l grew up in the time when you just went and did it and you didn't think about it too much. Once you have had an injury it’s always in the back of your mind. Our appetite for risk is very low. We don’t like employing people because of this very reason. That’s why a share farmer arrangement is better suited to us. We live on a hill so you have to have your wits about you. We also live on the main road and plenty of cars drive past, so there’s no time for doing the wrong thing.
What would you do if you weren't dairy farming?
I wouldn't have a clue what I would be doing! Dairy is what I've always done. It’s good to get off the farm sometimes though.
Are you feeling optimistic about the future?
As long as we can keep getting a good milk price we can do this! We've been pretty close a few times to closing it all down. We were just lucky enough to have our first lot of share farmers come along at the right time. Not everything can be fixed straight away, but slowly we will get there. My sister has taken over all the bookkeeping and paperwork and I’ll continue contracting work and doing what I can around the farm.
So, do you still go back to the Barrier where the accident happened?
Yep, it's like falling off a horse; you gotta get back on it!
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Where’s your farm, Gill?
Trafalgar
How long have you been in the industry?
Well, it'll be three years in March, 2023.
How many cows are you milking?
At the moment 140
Tell me how you got your start?
We purchased a house that was on 47 acres and it happened to have an old dairy on it. Never did we think we’d become dairy farmers though, we just thought it was a cool, old shed! My husband, Bryce, a farrier by trade, went and did a few milkings with the neighbour and he quite enjoyed it. The only other real experience we had in a the dairy was we originally bought 10 chopper cows and milked them; it wasn't enough milk to fill the bottom of the VAT so we had them on the test bucket and milked once a day and used the milk to start rearing a heap of calves.
Did you start building your dairy herd this way?
No, we sold all the calves once reared (beef). Then the opportunity came up to lease 106 acres next door with the potential to buy, plus we also bought the 15 acres on the other side with our superannuation. We committed to all this land (and debt) and became dairy farmers! In 2020 when we were going through the decision making process, it looked to us like the industry was on the improve. Obviously having a milking shed already on the property made the decision a bit easier. There’s no way the bank would lend us the money to buy the 106 acres if we weren’t dairy farming. The timing was just right for us as it looked like there was light at the end of the tunnel. It's probably only just great luck that we literally came at the right time when milk prices were good and the seasons were pretty perfect. Dairy is usually a generational thing and farms get handed down the family line. It doesn’t mean that each generation to take the farm on doesn’t work their butts off and sacrifice so much to make it work. However, we have literally started from scratch and we’re giving it a crack. We are three years in and have a new baby on the way and Bryce works flat out off farm. There's no point in stressing or trying to plan too much because it'll be what it’ll be. I'm just hoping that my birth all goes nicely and I’ll be back in the shed with my girls after not too long. We had a lot of people ask us, ‘why would you want to milk a cow’? But, for Bryce and I, we were up for it, we were like ‘let's have a crack at this’. Bryce can’t be a farrier forever because it’s too physical for him. You don't see too many 60 year old farriers. It’s not to say farming isn’t physical because it definitely is, but it's a different kind of physical. We both liked cows and we love animals so we enjoy what we’re doing.
So, Gill, you're managing the farm full-time with lots of support from Bryce.
Being pregnant is making me a bit slower these days.
You are seriously so capable!
Well, I am woman, hear me roar!
***
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Grab your FREE 2023 mental health calendar here
]]>As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need for sustainability, farmers and consumers are looking for ways to make their practices more environmentally friendly. One way that Aussie farmers can lower their environmental footprint is by choosing to milk Jersey’s instead of other breeds of cows like Friesians, the black and white ones you see so often! Friesians are a large cow, producing a large amount of milk, but at a higher environmental cost due to their consumption and weight. Here are a few reasons why Jersey cows are a more sustainable choice.
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As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need for sustainability, farmers and consumers are looking for ways to make their practices more environmentally friendly. One way that Aussie farmers can lower their environmental footprint is by choosing to milk Jersey’s instead of other breeds of cows like Friesians, the black and white ones you see so often! Friesians are a large cow, producing a large amount of milk, but at a higher environmental cost due to their consumption and weight. Here are a few reasons why Jersey cows are a more sustainable choice.
1. Jersey cows are known for their high milk production. This means that farmers can get more milk from fewer cows, which reduces the overall environmental impact of the farm. That means not only less land is needed to produce the same amount of milk, but less fodder inputs as well. According to a study by the University of California, Jersey cows produce more milk per kilo of body weight than other breeds, which means that they require fewer resources to produce the same amount of milk as other cows - they require less feed, water, and land than other breeds.
2. Jersey cows are smaller in size than other breeds, which means that they require less space and fewer resources to raise. Most cows are several years old by the time they join the herd, and up until that point spend their time grazing, growing and relaxing in the paddock. According to the Australian Jersey Cattle Society, Jersey cows are the smallest of the dairy breeds, which means that they require less land, feed, and water than larger breeds as calves.
3. Jersey cows are better suited to grazing than other breeds. Grazing is a more sustainable way of raising cows than feeding them grain and other inputs - think grass fed over grain fed. According to the Australian Jersey Cattle Society, Jersey cows are known for their grazing ability and can thrive on pastures that might not support other breeds. This means that farmers can raise Jersey cows on marginal land that might not be suitable for other types of farming. It also lends the breed to grazing more sustainable pasture choices. Just like there are millions of plants species in the world, there are millions of grass species, and farmers are constantly experimenting with different species looking for more sustainable varieties.
4. Jersey cows produce milk with a higher butterfat content than other breeds. This makes their milk more valuable to farmers, as they can get a higher price for it. According to the Australian Jersey Cattle Society, the butterfat content of Jersey milk is typically around 5%, compared to around 3.5% for Holstein milk. This means that farmers can get a higher return on their investment by raising Jersey cows, which makes them more sustainable as a business.
Jerseys are more sustainable as they are more efficient at converting feed into milk, produce more milk per kilo of body weight, require less space and fewer resources to raise, are better suited to grazing, and produce milk with a higher butterfat content. These factors make Jersey cows an attractive option for Aussie farmers who are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their operations while still maintaining profitability. By raising Jersey cows, farmers can reduce their carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and support a more sustainable food system.
We love Jersey’s for their friendly, docile temperaments and kind nature. You’ll see them regularly featured in our social media videos often - they can’t help themselves but get involved in the action, and perhaps get a head scratch as well!
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Marcus runs his own business on his family’s third generation farm in Yanakie, Victoria, having taken over the farm in 2020 after his father was seriously injured in an accident. Having lived and worked all over the world across different industries has given him perspective when coming back to the farm ‘When I was working in corporate, there was pressure to meet goals and targets. It felt like every time I achieved a goal I had nothing to show for it; they just moved the goal posts even further. I believe you create your own destiny and with farming I feel that I get to see the results of my work everyday.’ Marcus is also passionate about future proofing his farm and minimising environmental impact.
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“It’s hard to find love when you live in a small town and you are a dairy farmer, but I would love somebody to share it with me one day”
Marcus runs his own business on his family’s third generation farm in Yanakie, Victoria, having taken over the farm in 2020 after his father was seriously injured in an accident. Having lived and worked all over the world across different industries has given him perspective when coming back to the farm ‘When I was working in corporate, there was pressure to meet goals and targets. It felt like every time I achieved a goal I had nothing to show for it; they just moved the goal posts even further. I believe you create your own destiny and with farming I feel that I get to see the results of my work everyday.’ Marcus is also passionate about future proofing his farm and minimising environmental impact.
INTERVIEW
Do you ever pop down to the Prom for an
after-milking swim in summer in your budgies?
I really dislike sand, so I never go to the beach even
though it's over my back fence, and if I do, I wear boots.
How many cows are you milking and how many
staff do you employ?
300 milkers at the moment and I've got one full time
worker and one part time milker.
What’s your story and is this your family farm?
This farm has been a family farm since 1960. It was my
grandfather’s farm, then Mum and Dad bought him out
in 1990. In 2015 dad was on his way to New Zealand
on a Burra supplier tour and was run over by a car at the
airport. His leg was badly crushed in the accident and
he had no option but to lease the farm out. The lease
ended in the middle of Covid and I decided to run the
farm, otherwise Mum and Dad were going to sell up. At
the time I was working in retail as a manager and had
had enough of working within that role. I decided to put
my money where my mouth was!
What are your thoughts on the stigma attached
to farmers who may choose sustainability and
organically minded farms?
They’re courageous in many ways. As a farmer mindful
of your own environmental impact you take hit after
hit financially initially and it’s hard not to succumb to
farming groups and banks. However, I have come to
realise we can make changes in the way we farm to
reduce our impact on things like waterways, and other
non-cattle farms in the regions where we operate by
putting small business practices into place. My goals are
to protect farm assets and, whatever the future brings,
to keep the farm running whilst being environmentally
conscious.
Any regrets?
On the farm or in life? There's one blonde lady in
Barcelona I didn't buy a drink for, that's one regret!
I've never had stage fright before, but I absolutely
couldn't talk to her. It was definitely a missed
opportunity. There are some mornings I wake up and
ask myself, ‘why am I doing this’? And then some
mornings I wonder why I was complaining yesterday.
When I was working in corporate, there was pressure to
meet goals and targets. It felt like every time I achieved
a goal I had nothing to show for it; they just moved
the goal posts even further. I believe you create your
own destiny and with farming I feel that I get to see the
results of my work everyday.
Tell me about some of your challenges?
I've grown up on the farm and I actually think the daily
demands and challenges of working hard are probably
very good for my health, because I was living a very
party lifestyle before Covid. Being a ‘cow cocky’ is very
demanding but, if you want to strive in it and try to get
further, you put the hours in and you get the return.
Have you got a life defining moment in your mental
health journey?
March of 2020, at the start of COVID, I had just come
back from Europe with hopes of repacking my bag to
go travelling again. I had my money saved up, then a
close family friend suddenly died from a heart attack. He
had a dairy farm just around the corner and was milking
500 Cows with his wife and worker’s help. I really
questioned my life after this, evaluated everything,
and decided to farm.
You could have had a family with the blonde from
Barcelona by now, Marcus.
I also might still be trying to find the courage for the
words to talk to her!
Is there a possibility that you might be going on
Farmer Wants A Wife?
It's a massive commitment and I’m not sure I could leave
the farm to film for eight weeks. It’s hard to find love
when you live in a tiny town and you are a dairy farmer,
but I would love somebody to share it with me one day.
What lights up your fire to get out of bed in the
morning?
I can see the money in the vat after each time I milk the
cows. It might seem weird, but I actually love watching
calves grow up and transition into being a part of the
herd. Driving around the farm seeing things grow; that
makes me excited. My long-term goal is to buy some
land for myself. I lease this farm from Mum and Dad,
Mum does my books and dad is my gopher.
How do you make farm work fun, Marcus? Give me
an example.
I like to play tricks on my milker! And, I try to get away at
least once a month for a couple of days and just forget
about everything. I'm lucky that dad can still oversee
things. It clears your head to go off-farm and I get to
come back fresh.
Any tips for farmers that might read this and be
struggling with mental illness?
Make everyday fun. Find your sense of humour and
don’t take yourself too seriously.
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Ladies, did you know Marcus is single and looking for love?! With no time to get off the farm to go on Farmer Wants a Wife, we need to help a farmer out during February the month of love! Great things about Marcus;
Interested? Send him a DM 📩 Insta @marcusbrickle Facebook @marcus.brickle
]]>How long have you been in the dairy industry?
I grew up on the family farm and I've been full time in the industry for 11 years now.
Did you go to school in Sale?
Yeah, I started at Bundalaguah Primary and finished in Sale. After school I completed a certificate Ill in Agriculture followed by the certificate IV. I was also managing daily operations on one of the home farms during this time.
Tell me what is it about dairy that you love?
I like the challenge of it; it's rewarding to see the results of your hard work each year.
How many kids are there in your family?
There are four of us, I'm the oldest, my sister, Lavinia, and two younger brothers, Will and Tim. All us boys are home working on the farm and my sister helps a few days a week between her nursing career.
Have you always had a strong bond with your dad?
Yeah, definitely. We've always worked side by side since I was a kid.
So, Tom...a little bit about your family situation that had you come back to Gippsland in a hurry?
So, I farmed at home for six years full time and at 22 I met my partner Steph, through friends of ours. She lived in the Kiewa Valley. After a year of travelling to see each other, the opportunity came up to move to the Kiewa Valley too. Steph had a good job and was studying at the time. I worked for a large family-owned dairy farm not far from where we lived for the next three years and we travelled back home every few weeks to see the family. Up until Dad got crook.
What did your dad say in that phone call?
Did he specifically ask you to come home?
In July 2021 dad asked me to come home for a week to run the farm. I thought, 'well if dad's asking me to come home, it must be pretty serious.
He'd had some tests come back and needed urgent surgery. As I was travelling home, mum and dad were driving to Melbourne. The cows had just started calving and I ended up staying for four months. Dad was hospitalised for three weeks after doctors removed 3.6 kilograms of tumour and affected tissue. Three months later he went back to the doctors for scans, only to discover the tumours had aggressively returned.
Dad wasn't sure if he wanted to start treatment as things looked pretty grim, but after talking to the family he decided to give it a go. It took seven months, two different trials of chemotherapy and three rounds of genomic testing to even diagnose the cancer properly and decide the next trial of treatment, which was immunotherapy. The efforts of Mulgrave Private Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have been amazing.
How does it make you feel knowing that your dad is sick and that without a miracle his health will deteriorate?
It's hard to believe there could have been a miracle after his initial diagnosis, but his recent results with immunotherapy have been incredible. Fingers crossed these results continue into the future.
We're so thankful for every day that we get with him.
Is there an understanding that you re taking over from your dad?
Yeah, that's what we're working towards now that Steph and I have moved back to Gippsland. Dad's still very much involved though.
How do you and your dad enjoy time together? Just by being with him each day and working alongside him? How's your dad coping with it all?
We enjoy working alongside each other and getting jobs done. It's good to talk about things and bounce ideas off one another. Safe to say, it's been a rough journey, but dad's coping well. He shows up every day and does what he can.
Have you changed the way you manage your feelings and emotions as a man because of your dad getting sick, Tom?
We definitely talk more about certain things and take our health more seriously than before. It's been a big wake up call.
Can I ask you a personal question Tom? Have there been tears between you and big heart moments, breaking down those barriers between father and son?
Yeah of course, there has been with the whole family. We were also extremely close to losing my youngest brother, Tim a year earlier after he had a bad motorbike accident and was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. It's been a tough few years.
What are you doing to look after yourself, Tom?
I normally jump on the dirt bike and disappear for a day, or weekend, with mates. I'm pretty easy going and l've got plenty of good people around me to talk to. Just talking about it is probably the biggest thing.
Once upon a time that was unheard of; just keep it to yourself and move on and whatever. But no! It's definitely something people are a bit more open about these days. Its important to talk and be willing to accept help when offered. One of our neighbours, and good mate, Andrew, organized a group of locals, and members from the Heyfield Lions Club, to cart hay for us back in January. This was a massive help.
Our family is very appreciative of their time and efforts.
What's been your big take away from the journey with your dad?
You've gotta look after yourself, check in with yourself and your family.
Forget the typical farmer attitude of 'it'll be right. If something doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't and it's time to do something about it.
This applies to your physical health as well as your mental health.
The Farming Conversations 2023 is brought to you FREE by Gippsland Jersey, Connect Well, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Orbost Regional Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
Grab your FREE 2023 mental health calendar here
]]>Many of you know I tragically lost my Dad to suicide in 2016, and that traumatic event and the unfolding dairy crisis, were the two catalysts that brought about Gippsland Jersey. Our annual mental health calendar is an integral part of our mental health brand pillar since it began in 2018. It is delivered free to dairy farmers all over Victoria every year, with the intention of starting a conversation around mental health, in which the daily 'office' can be a very isolating environment. We hope the calendar finds its way to the wall in the dairy, or maybe in the family kitchen, and serves as a reminder for any farmer in a tough moment, that there is always someone who has walked the same path and come out the other side, and that's it ok to ask for help.
]]>Many of you know I tragically lost my Dad to suicide in 2016, and that traumatic event and the unfolding dairy crisis, were the two catalysts that brought about Gippsland Jersey. Our annual mental health calendar is an integral part of our mental health brand pillar since it began in 2018. It is delivered free to dairy farmers all over Victoria every year, with the intention of starting a conversation around mental health, in which the daily 'office' can be a very isolating environment. We hope the calendar finds its way to the wall in the dairy, or maybe in the family kitchen, and serves as a reminder for any farmer in a tough moment, that there is always someone who has walked the same path and come out the other side, and that's it ok to ask for help.
Last week we launched the 2023 'Farming Conversations' calendar that tells 12 Gippsland dairy farmers’ stories, on my family farm (and our production factory) in East Gippsland. Many of the stories in the calendar talk about how the most simplistic act of someone showing up for them when things are hard was the best medicine. There is once again a diverse group of farmers from many different backgrounds - some are battling major health issues, some were born into the family farm, others come from the big smoke and fell in love with life on the land.
The Weekly Times wrote on article this week on calendar participant, Marlo dairy farmer Chris Kane who now sees a bright future milking cows in East Gippsland, however not long ago the father of two had a much darker outlook on life. Chris, 36, this year moved his family back to the coastal region where he grew up, after spending five years managing a corporate dairy operation at Labertouche. At the age of 28, he was diagnosed with depression and milking cows was his sole reason to get up in the morning.
“I’ve had times in my life when it’s been very dark,” Chris said. “I went and saw professionals and they basically said to me if you can get out of bed, milk the cows, feed the calves, then go back to bed, you’ve done well for the day, and it’s a tick."
Joe Meggetto, a dairy farmer from Warragul South, opened the calendar launch by sharing his lived experience of battling mental health, see his talk here on our socials. Joe shares his story not only to save his own life but also others. Joe has chosen to be public and very honest about his health journey from 2018 when we printed out first calendar. If Joe Meggetto wasn’t a dairy farmer — I reckon he would commit himself to seeing reform in the mental health and wellbeing sector. What I love about Joe is that he makes himself available to anyone that needs help or support, even when he's struggling himself. Because of Joe’s advocacy work in mental health and wellbeing, he is being painted for the prestigious Archibald portrait competition in 2023. His portrait deserves to win, I believe!
Our 2023 Mental Health Calendar is FREE and available now
If you've made it this far, thanks SO much for supporting Gippsland Jersey, we couldn't do what we do without you all supporting the work we do!
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Our basic vanilla custard uses Gippsland Jersey full cream milk at its heart - as well as egg yolks, vanilla extract, sugar and cornflour to bring it together. It can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, and it will really take those festive desserts to the next level when it’s time to serve! If you’re after a richer custard, sub 200ml of milk for 200ml of our pouring cream.
Of course - the serving suggestions for a good quality custard are endless. At Christmas you can use it as the accompaniment for trifles, pavlovas, puddings, fruit and more! Trust us - you won’t go back to store bought after you make your own.
Once you’ve nailed the basic recipe, why not customise it with different flavours? We’ve given you some ideas below.
RECIPE// Vanilla Custard
Serves 6
Time to prepare: 15 mins
Ingredients:
600ml Gippsland Jersey full cream milk
1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
3 egg yolks
2 tbsp cornflour
¼ cup sugar
Method
STEP 1
Put the milk and vanilla into a large pan* and gently heat until it is just starting to bubble. Set aside. While the milk is heating, whisk the yolks, cornflour and sugar in a bowl.
STEP 2
Add ½ of hot milk into the egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Repeat with another ½ cup of milk until the mixture is smooth. Pour the milk and egg mixture into the rest of the hot milk pan and whisk gently until combined.** Put back on a medium-low stove and heat gently, stirring with a wooden spoon until the custard is thickened.*** Strain through a sieve to serve, and eat warm or cold.
Note: If you are serving this later, put cling wrap directly onto the custard before putting in the fridge to prevent a skin forming.
* Keen on Christmas spiced custard? Add 1 pinch nutmeg, ½ stick of cinnamon and 2 whole cloves to the milk before you heat it.
** Want chocolate custard? Add 100g good quality dark chocolate in step 2 just before you put the pan back on the heat. Mix regularly to help the melted chocolate disperse.
*** Want brandy custard? Add 1/2 tbsp of brandy and mix well immediately, just after the custard is thickened and off the heat.
]]>Siahn grew up 2km down the road from her grandparent’s farm where she is currently share farming with her husband, Kev, and her Pop. The business is called Oak Jerseys and Siahn says this name encompasses everything special to her, as on the farm, a 120 year old oak tree grows in all its majesty. Over the years this tree has become a part of her story in more ways than Siahn could have ever imagined.
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‘Don’t be stubborn, go talk to your doctor if something doesn’t feel right. Just bite your pride.’
Siahn grew up 2km down the road from her grandparent’s farm where she is currently share farming with her husband, Kev, and her Pop. The business is called Oak Jerseys and Siahn says this name encompasses everything special to her, as on the farm, a 120 year old oak tree grows in all its majesty. Over the years this tree has become a part of her story in more ways than Siahn could have ever imagined.
Siahn remembers spending every chance she could at Oak Jerseys. Her late nan, someone that she has always looked up to for her capabilities and resilience, would spend hours playing with her under the oak tree as a child and it’s where she holds some of her fondest memories. Her and Kev would later go on to marry underneath its branches. Even when Siahn ventured off to university, she would dream of the farming life and her special oak tree at home. After two years she decided to leave the student life behind and go back to the farm.
It was during her second pregnancy, and after a series of challenging events, that Siahn felt herself begin to spiral into mental illness. Despite being a mental health advocate with her friends, she ignored her own growing inner turmoil. Looking back now, she realises she was likely suffering with post-natal depression. Then, during her third pregnancy, she was confronted with one tragic event after the other in her personal life which lead to peri-natal anxiety and a deep ache in her heart. She began to give up on living. She was tired of being the one who always stayed strong for others. What stopped her from following through with her dire plans that day? She looked up from the dairy pit and through an opening spotted the old oak tree. It reminded her of all the things she had loved growing up, all the memories she had made along the way. She just couldn’t imagine not seeing it’s grandeur ever again. After a long and arduous battle with her mental health over many years, she finally admitted to herself that it was time to call her doctor and ask for help.
Siahn is excited to be part of this mental health awareness calendar as she recalls a story from the first edition regarding one of the farmer’s wives suffering with postnatal depression and anxiety. It helped her realise she wasn’t the only one. She hopes her story will help others also, to know they’re not alone and to seek help when they need it.
A big thanks to Connect Well East Gippsland for helping us bring this calendar to life in 2022.
If you need someone to talk to, reach out to:
Rural health connect
Lifeline on 13 11 14
If you're a rural parent and feeling like you'd like a network, check out the amazing Motherland Australia
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