News

‘Mental health, like cancer, doesn’t choose who it effects. The thing about mental health is, even though it’s unseen, it’s still an illness’.

No matter what life throws at you, never give up!’

At 21 years old, Jake has been through many trials and challenges, also triumphs.  He possesses a wisdom beyond his years and a fire in his belly born from adversity. To talk to him, you’d come to realise that he is a young man with ambition, strength and smart business savviness.  Yet at the heart of him, he has a sensitive soul, a man who just wants to help those around him and give back to his community. 

$2180 was raised for Gippsland Lifeline as part of the DIAA Dairy Product Competition that held a auction to sell all the amazing cheese that was submitted for judging.

‘I was too busy chasing more, that I ended up with less. Don’t take the people in your life for granted in the pursuit of a bigger dream.’

In 2016 Anthony and his partner at the time, Mads, bought 277 acres in Yarram while they were still in their early to mid 20’s. Anthony loved being able to see his two young children during the day. However, he was striving and working so hard to build the farm’s profits that the things he loved most began to slowly slip away. The farm came with great reward, but also a huge private cost. 

‘Don’t conform with everything that’s out there, think outside the box sometimes. Think individually, what’s good for your neighbour isn’t necessarily good for your farm!’

Produced by Connect Well East Gippsland + Wellington and Gippsland Jersey, the 2022 'The Hand that Feeds You" calendar includes the stories of 12 East Gippsland farmers and extols the virtues  of sharing and recognising the inner struggles many of us, especially those who work on the  land, have faced in the past 12 months.