Life on the Land

We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast. In this episode you'll meet Mandy Walker, the 2024 Western Australian winner who is supporting regional businesses to diversify and flourish, in conversation with Sammie O'Brien. The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. The award recognises the women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia. Mandy Walker co-owns Walkers Diesel Services in Wongan Hills, a town 185 kilometres north-east of Perth in Western Australia. She's a passionate advocate for family business in regional areas and has developed a game-changing business model for other engineering enterprises in the Wheatbelt.

Leila McDougall… There's not a lot she hasn't done. In her own words, she's had ‘a very elaborate career path'. Fashion designer, school teacher, showgirl, and now film maker; the latter, possibly her greatest role yet.   Just a Farmer is an independent film, set in rural Victoria, exploring ‘generational trauma, love, loss, and the undeniable resilience of a farming community in the face of tragedy'. It's a must watch, a difficult watch at times, but brilliant none the less.    Growing up on a property in Walcha, in the New England area of New South Wales, Leila was driven to not only produce but star in the film through her own personal experiences with mental health. Despite having no prior experience, Leila is completely incredible in her starring role in the film, and beautifully depicts the challenges of rural life.  This episode is brought to you thanks to the support of Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. Are you ready for a winter escape? Welcome to the Hunter Valley, New South Wales' premier wine region. Picture this: crisp winter air, beautiful shiraz and cozy fireside lounges. It's the perfect getaway. Enjoy wine tastings at award-winning wineries and savour gourmet food crafted from local produce. Need some adventure? Try hot air ballooning over vineyards or unwind with a spa day at luxurious retreats. So, pack your bags and discover the magic of Hunter Valley this winter. Visit winecountry.com.au/winter to plan your trip today. Here's to the good life!

Steph Trethewey is no stranger to Graziher's Life on the Land subscribers. The accomplished journalist was awarded the AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year in 2022 and she was also crowned the 2024 Tasmanian of the Year. Her online community Motherland has been a tremendous support for hundreds of Australian women and she's told countless stories through her popular podcast of the same name. Following her recent involvement on a panel discussion at Graziher's Up Early event at Beef 2024, Steph talks to host Sammie O'Brien about how life has changed following her successes. 

Julie McDonald is one of Australia's most impressive beef industry leaders. Wonderfully down to earth and wildly intelligent, Julie's humble and optimistic personality is captivating. She is the CFO of one of Australia's largest privately owned beef enterprises, McDonald Holdings, and is a brilliant advocate for encouraging the next generation to excel in the agricultural industry. In this episode, she's in conversation with Sammie O'Brien about what makes her tick, her hopes for her four daughters and what she thinks the future looks like for the beef industry. 

Alison Lester's books have become iconic staples for many Australian children, making her a household name right across the country. Not only are her timeless tales eagerly awaited as a bedtime story, her words and illustrations are woven into the fabric of so many families' lives. She's the cherished author whose stories and illustrations, such as ‘Magic Beach' and ‘Kissed by the Moon' filled our childhoods, and now, adorn the bookshelves of our children, evoking waves of nostalgia from our own youthful days. Originally from a picturesque property near Foster in Victoria's South Gippsland region, where the undulating hills converge with the vast expanse of the sea, Alison now calls Nar Nar Goon North, her home. An hour out of Melbourne in West Gippsland, she, her husband and their horses, revel in the serenity of their sprawling 10-acre property as told to Sammie O'Brien. 

Tracey Hayes is one of the Australian beef industry's most esteemed leaders. The mother of four sons who are sixth generation Northern Territorians, she is the Chair of the Federation Board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and owns and runs a successful small business. Tracey was also the first female CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association and a driving force behind the watershed class action against the Federal Government's 2011 live export ban to Indonesia. Tracey is one of Graziher's panellists for the Up Early breakfast to be held at Rockhampton's Beef 2024, an event that sold out so quickly we wanted to make sure you also heard from each of these amazing women here on the podcast. Today's conversation revolves around picking Tracey's incredible brain about her business sense, mentors, how we get more female representation around board tables, the importance of superannuation for women who are parenting, the many inroads to a professional career at ANY time of life and what has happened in the three years since we last spoke….

Jessica Bidgood is a cattle producer from Baralaba in Central Queensland and after a couple of decades on the land, is living her best life with her husband John and children Lylia, Zander and Cormac. In this episode, our host Emily Herbert discovers Jess' sense of purpose, both in business and in their family life The Bidgoods background and trade up to 1500 head of cattle across their three properties – with a big focus on regenerative practices and time-controlled grazing. She has so much knowledge to share in this episode which is truly invaluable.

In the final epsiode of our Summer Series, Graziher's editor Victoria Carey couldn't resist revisiting Lori Pensini's story. The artwork of the Western Australian artist was featured on the cover of our October/November edition - a first for the publication and a very exciting milestone. Lori's heart belongs to the Western Australian bush. From her Perth upbringing to following her new husband to the isolated expanse of a Kimberly cattle station and now championing regenerative farming in the state's south, Lori's devotion to the Australian landscape and it's people is gorgeously depicted in her art. Her connection to the land runs deep, shaping not only her art, but also the very lens through which she views the world.

Graziher's podcast producer Jayne Cuddihy found Wendy Henning's mantra has stayed with her since the interview first aired. In a world where being busy is a badge of honour - Wendy's mantra is that if it's important, then you'll make time. Wendy and her husband Andrew own and manage a cattle and mixed cropping business at Merchison Park, near Glenmorgan, Queensland. In Wendy's own words, they are ‘in the middle of everywhere, but not quite anywhere. Two hours to Gundy, two hours to Roma, two hours to Dalby and an hour and ¾ to St George. With four daughters now having flown the coop, Wendy is busier than ever. As a long-term passionate advocate for education, Wendy has spent years with the ICPA (or Isolated Children's Parents Association), dedicated to ensuring every child, regardless of how they learn, is able to receive a quality education. Wendy was recently elected as President of the Queensland State Council, meaning the balance of business, volunteer roles and travelling time to see her girls just got even more intense!

Graziher's Sammie O'Brien was completely enraptured when she heard Camille McClymont's story. While her life in Western Australia's Kimberly region is well reflected in her Instagram posts, ( @thecattlemans_daughter ); the red dust, the blazing sunsets and the days of mustering, it was the candid insight behind the lens that stayed with Sammie. In this episode Camille gives an insight into life managing 10,000 head of cattle spread across 122,000 hectares, during some of the most extreme weather Mother Nature has thrown at them in recent history. She also gives a heart wrenching, yet deeply insightful look into her idyllic childhood preceding a series of devastating twists of fate in her early teens that marked the beginning of a life-threatening eating disorder. This is a story about family, commitment, love and most of all, a truly wonderous sense of belonging. 

The story of outback dressmaker Melinda O'Donoghue more than captured the imagination of Graziher Founder Claire Dunne. Melinda is often compared to ‘Cinderella's fairy godmother'. Known as The Outback Wedding Dressmaker, she's made close to 300 wedding dresses for country and city brides around the nation — and even some overseas! Melinda is a classically trained seamstress, working alongside the likes of well-known designer Alex Perry in Sydney. Melinda and her husband, Des, now live on a property in Gurley, just over 30 kilometres south of Moree, in New South Wales. This is Melinda's story of the trials and tribulations of living on the land, coupled with the magic she brings to brides across Australia. 

Graziher's Sally Jackson was riveted by the story of rural photographer and farmer Kim Storey. In November 2022, Kim was preparing for a flood, but what she, and her neighbours didn't know, was that it was a one in 5000-year event. In a matter of hours, Kim went from calmly preparing her property by taking her motorbike and dog next door, to a frantic helicopter evacuation while raging waters lapped at her door. This is the story of how Kim, and her nearby town Eugowra; a small rural community in the Lachlan Valley of central west NSW weathered an extreme weather event and came out the other side. 

Graziher's Amie Shann revisits the amazing tale of Sophie Elliott in the first episode of our Life on the Land Summer Series. Sophie's story is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit and stands as a poignant reminder that even in the face of formidable challenges, happiness can be found again. A born and bred western Queensland girl, Sophie was working at The Blue Heeler Pub in Kynuna in her early twenties. It was here, that her life would change forever. This is a love story, entwined with tragedy, and a new beginning. 

Mental health in the bush has long been a topic of conversation, and it seems we are becoming more aware of the particular challenges of the idea, but are things changing quickly enough and is enough being done in rural Australia to help those most at risk? Originally from the city of Adelaide in South Australia, Steph Schmidt has become a brilliant advocate for changing the narrative and redefining the picture of farming mental health. After overcoming her own setbacks when she moved to the country back in 2011.

Fiona Simson has become a household name in Australia, not least because of her role as the first ever female president of the National Farmers Federation, but for passion and grace while serving in the role. Fiona has orchestrated remarkable positive transformations for the Australian agricultural sector. Originally from a property just outside of Armadale in New South Wales, Fiona met her fourth generation husband Ed in Sydney, before settling at Gunnedah. The fertile black soil of the Liverpool Plains is where they raised their two children, Tom and Jemima, and continue to farm alongside Tom and his young family. Fiona's grounded in affable nature positions her seamlessly as an industry leader, allowing young women around the country to envision a viable career in rural Australia and the agricultural realm.

There's not a lot that Avelina Tarrago isn't a strong advocate for. As one of only two female indigenous barristers in Queensland, Avelina has forged an impressive professional path in conjunction with strong social and cultural commitments. In this episode, Avelina, a passionate Wangkamadla Traditional Owner speaks about the barriers for other members of her community to follow in her footsteps, her passion for Bush Heritage and the need for more frank, open conversations about fertility and birth in indigenous communities. Prior to being called to the bar in 2017, Avelina was a federal prosecutor with a Commonwealth director of public prosecutions.

Dalene Wray grew up in the small outback town of Birdsville, in far western Queensland, host of the famous Birdsville races and the Big Red Bash. With an idyllic childhood as one of six children in one of Australia's most remote yet well-known areas, Dalene was soon curious about the wider world. Starting her career as a radiographer in regional Australian hospitals and then in the United Kingdom, Dalene is now at the helm of Australia's oldest exporter of organic beef- OBE Organic. With a deep passion for people as well as delicious beef, Dalene drives innovative and progressive company policies and considers influencing government policy a necessity. 

Chances are, if you're living in, or driving through regional and remote parts of Australia, you may have seen a blue tree in a paddock and wondered about it. That tree is one of over a thousand dotted across the countryside. The Blue Tree Project is a mental health charity that flourished from a grass roots movement in regional Western Australia. Kendall is the brains behind the initiative, which came from the tragic and unexpected loss of her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018. Hailing from small country town of Mukinbudin in the Central Wheatbelt in Western Australia, Kendall has achieved a lot in the space of rural mental health in the last four years and was crowed the 2022 WA Young Australian of the Year. 

Lori Pensini's heart belongs to the Western Australian bush. From her Perth upbringing to following her new husband to the isolated expanse of a Kimberly cattle station and now championing regenerative farming in the State's south- Lori's devotion to the Australian landscape and it's people is gorgeously depicted in her art. Her connection to the land runs deep, shaping not only her art, but also the very lens through which she views the world. You may recognise Lori's name from the latest cover of Graziher. It's our first ever illustrated cover, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have her work showcased in our magazine.  

Nikki Davey is the 2023 National Winner of the Agrifutures Rural Women's Award. This award celebrates and acknowledges the critical role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities and inspires the next generation. Nikki is a co-founder of ‘Grown Not Flown', a digital platform that supports the slow flower movement by connecting flower consumers with local and sustainable producers. The National Winner and Runner Up of the award was announced at a Gala Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra; a night where some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, come together to celebrate all that the agricultural industry has to offer. Applications for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award are now open and will close on Wednesday, 25 October 2023 (Friday, 26 January 2024 for NT Applicants). See the AgriFutures website for more details.

Melissa Duniam is striving to ensure Australian workplaces are healthier and more productive through her design of facilitated equine workshops. The Tasmanian winner of the 2023 Agrifutures Rural Women's Award was shocked by statistics released by Australian mental health support organisation, Beyond Blue that say one in five Australians have taken time off work for anxiety, depression and mental health challenges - while an astonishing 46 per cent consider their work place to be mentally unhealthy. Melissa is a dairy farmer, business consultant and an Equine Assisted Learning facilitator - helping companies and their employees communicate better whilst learning to work alongside horses through her business, Leading Rein. It's a passion that Melissa never knew could be a career – and was sparked by a transformative crossroads moment in 2016, after suffering a devastating farm accident. 

Emma-Louise Gibbons is on a mission to reshape Australia's pet treat market, with her use of insect protein and local Queensland veggies in her treat business, Huds & Toke. And while she's at it, she's going to take on the US pet food market too — worth an estimated $57 billion. Born and raised on a beef cattle and cropping property, the winner of the 2023 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women's Award says growing up in the bush meant she learned to innovate early.

Ali Paulett speaks like her brain works – at a million miles a minute. The South Australian has a plethora of different degrees and diplomas that has seen her work as a horse-riding instructor, a vet nurse, a medical receptionist, a qualified draftswoman and designer, a wine marketer and now a manager at her family's Clare Valley winery – Paulett's Wines. The winner of the 2023 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award is working alongside local First Nations elders to preserve their history by using beautiful videography storytelling, which will be displayed throughout the bush tucker garden Ali has built next to the family's cellar door.

The language around grief can be a conundrum- what to say, how to say it, when to say it? But Michelle Moriarty, the Western Australian winner of the AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year has dedicated herself to breaking down the barriers. Unfortunately, it took the sudden death of her partner Nathan to spark the project, but it has blossomed into multifaceted widow support networks and resources. At the forefront of her business, the accredited social worker has tailored her Grief Connect program and also her Grief Language Project into a national service that supports individuals personally. 

Michelle Leonard believes everyone can sing. A self-proclaimed ‘relentless optimist', the founder of Moorambilla Voices and New South Wales finalist for the AgriFutures Australia Rural Woman's Award is on a mission to electrify the arts in country Australia and bring music to all. For the last 18 years, Michelle has left her home in Sydney for nearly six weeks, driving upwards of 4000 kilometres around New South Wales, across 21 Local Government areas to recruit for her various ensembles. Of the thousands of kids that she coaxes music from, 350 are selected to learn to sing, play drums, to dance and read music – going on to perform throughout the year in venues like Dubbo's Regional Theatre and Convention centre and this year, the Sydney Opera House. 

Eileen Breen is a woman of values, and no matter what curve balls life throws at her, she manages to find success in line with them. Demolition is an interesting industry to work in for someone whose DNA is laced with sustainability – but it's the inroads she and husband, Gerry are making when it comes to resource recovery and recycling that truly floats the boat of this nature loving business strategist. As the Northern Territory finalist in the AgriFutures Rural Woman's Award, Eileen wears many hats, but at the core of all her commitments is a belief she can make the world a better place. 

Not all flowers are grown equal. Or at least not according to Nikki Davey, a truffle and flower producer from Victoria's Glenmore. The entrepreneur is the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award finalist for Victoria for her work co-founding Grown not Flown — a digital platform that supports the slow flower movement, connecting flower consumers with local and sustainable producers. Yet, Nikki never thought she'd come back to the 300-acre property she grew up on — let alone work to make it a viable business. For the last 21 years, the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award has empowered and celebrated the leadership of women involved in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities. Equipped with a $15,000 Westpac grant, each of the state and territory winners are in the running for the national winner and runner up to be announced in September — awarded an additional $20,000 and $15,000 Westpac grant respectively.

Tanya-Lee Holmes often quips that her life really only got started in her 40s. That's quite a big call when you consider she acquired a life changing disability at 39 and has spent over 20 years as a carer for two children with Cerebral Palsy. Living on a small property outside Bathurst in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, the mother of three has navigated a series of defining events that saw her come out the other side more determined and focussed than ever. But she cites meeting the love of her life at 16 and facing all odds together as a team as one of her greatest achievements. 

Sophie Elliott's story is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit and stands as a poignant reminder that even in the face of formidable challenges, happiness can be found again. A born and bred western Queensland girl, Sophie was working at The Blue Heeler Pub in Kynuna in her early twenties. It was here, that her life would change forever. This is a love story, entwined with tragedy, and a new beginning. 

From a youth campdrafting and mustering on the family's 19,000 acre station outside Queensland's Glenmorgan, to a life under lights co-captaining Australia's Women's Rugby 7s team, The Pearls; Demi Hayes is living proof that geographical isolation doesn't beat talent and hard work. While she now lives a long way from the beef property she grew up on, the 25 year old has taken many lessons with her from paddock to the pitch – including her leadership style learned in the cattle yards, which will see her take her team to the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

How Wendy Henning fits all of her commitments into one day is a mystery to most! Wendy and her husband Andrew own and manage a cattle and mixed cropping business at Merchison Park, near Glenmorgan, Queensland. In Wendy's own words, they are ‘in the middle of everywhere, but not quite anywhere. Two hours to Gundy, two hours to Roma, two hours to Dalby and an hour and ¾ to St George'. With four daughters now having flown the coop, Wendy is busier than ever. As a long-term passionate advocate for education, Wendy has spent years with the ICPA, or Isolated Children's Parents Association, dedicated to ensuring every child, regardless of how they learn, is able to receive a quality education. Wendy was recently elected as President of the Queensland State Council, meaning the balance of business, volunteer roles and travelling time to see her girls just got even more intense!

Jillian Kilby is not afraid of the big decisions. As an engineer and farmer's daughter from Coonamble, in the central west of New South Wales, Jillian has leant on her rural values right through her career. This courage has seen her go against the grain most of her life and bounce from Coonamble to Sydney to Walgett to Silicon Valley and back to the Central West. Now she's breathing new life into country heritage buildings while helping regional start-ups increase their capability, capacity and confidence because she knows all too well how lonely a road it can be starting a small business in the bush. It takes a certain level of guts to dig deep and blow up your life and Jillian has done it not once, but twice on an extraordinary scale.

Eliza Lockyer takes putting nutritious food on the table very seriously. Obsessed with gardening since her late teens, Eliza also developed a fascination with rare breed stock and has dedicated a large portion of her life promoting the benefits of their continued breeding. If you've ever been interested in gardening, or you live in a place where it might be difficult to grow because of clay or rocky soil- then this is the episode for you! Growing up on a small property, nestled amidst the picturesque Tasmanian north-west coast, Eliza's appreciation for growing fruit, veggies and protein, gradually blossomed into quite the obsession that's followed her across the continent. Spending the last six years between the Pilbara and Kimberley regions in Western Australia, she and husband Andy bid farewell to the red earth and rugged terrain, home-bound, to pull up stumps on Andy's family cattle property in Walcha, New South Wales.

Can you imagine taking eight horses, 14 working dogs, three goats and two toddlers on a six-month long road trip? It's certainly not for the faint hearted, but for the Northern Territory's Curtain family, it's Situation Normal. In this episode, our host Emily Herbert is in conversation with Annabelle Curtain, a wife, mother and urban designer, who has built an incredibly diverse business alongside her husband Tom.

As a mother, wife and business owner, Jade Lord is deeply invested in bringing health and wellbeing to rural and remote communities. Originally from Moreton Bay, Jade spent most of her early childhood on Stradbroke Island. A blissful beachside oasis, surrounded by crystal clear water, white sand and rocky outcrops. It's a stark contrast from where Jade now calls home, a remote cattle station, 150km outside of Richmond, in Queensland. There, with her husband Nikko and three kids, Jock, Sandy and Ruby, they run a significant beef cattle operation, spanning across northern Queensland. Jade and Nikko had somewhat of a fairy tale romance, meeting on one of the early seasons of Farmer Wants a Wife, but as you'll hear in this episode, Jade's life on the land wasn't without some major challenges.

Melinda O'Donoghue is often compared to ‘Cinderella's fairy godmother'. Known as The Outback Wedding Dressmaker, she's made close to 300 wedding dresses for country and city brides around the nation- and some even overseas! Melinda is a classically trained seamstress, working alongside the likes of well-known designer Alex Perry in Sydney. Melinda and her husband, Des, now live on a property in Gurley, just over 30 kilometres south of Moree, in New South Wales. This is Melinda's story of the trials and tribulations of living on the land, coupled with the magic she brings to brides across Australia. 

Baker, green thumb and former country journalist Maya Linnell is about to release her fifth book. The bestselling Rural Romance, or RuRo author has an amazing story to tell. From a startling introduction into journalism following America's September 11 attack, to realising her aspirations as a novelist at nearly 40 years old, Maya demonstrates there's no time limit on achieving your dreams. In this episode Maya takes us through the arduous process of writing novels, spurred by her passions for baked goods, tending roses and a rural lifestyle. 

Camille McClymont's life in Western Australia's Kimberly region is well reflected in her Instagram posts, (@thecattlemandaughter); the red dust, the blazing sunsets and the days of mustering, the 31-year-old gives a little snapshot into her days spent managing her family's property, Kalyeeda Station.  In this episode Camille gives an insight into life managing 10,000 head of cattle spread across 122,000 hectares, during some of the most extreme weather Mother Nature has thrown at them in recent history. She also gives a heart wrenching, yet deeply insightful look into her idyllic childhood preceding a series of devastating twists of fate in her early teens that marked the beginning of a life-threatening eating disorder. This is a story about family, commitment, love and most of all, a truly wonderous sense of belonging. 

Rural photographer and farmer Kim Storey was preparing for a flood in November 2022, but what she, and her neighbours didn't know, was that it was a one in 5000-year event. In a matter of hours, Kim went from calmly preparing her property by taking her motorbike and dog next door, to a frantic helicopter evacuation while raging waters lapped at her door. This is the story of how Kim, and her nearby town Eugowra; a small rural community in the Lachlan Valley of central west NSW weathered an extreme weather event and came out the other side. 

Felicity Weal has her eyes set on a spot in the 2024 Paralympics. And if qualification took into account her steely determination and incredible optimism, she would surely secure a place. In 2017, Felicity fell six-metres through the roof of her family's farm shed on their 800-hectare sheep and beef farm near Cowra, New South Wales. This is the story of what happened after the fall- when Felicity woke up to a life altering experience that left her without the use of her legs when she was only 21-years-old. Just six years down the track, she's living her best life, surrounded by the love and support of her friends and family, entering motherhood and living life on the land. 

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft.

“What would Dad do?” These are the words Sallie Jones thought to herself in the midst of the dairy crisis sweeping the nation in 2016. Sallie was a daughter of dairy farmers, entrepreneurs, and a daughter left reeling, grieving the loss of her father, Michael Bowen, who had completed suicide just weeks prior. Sallie is force of nature. A changemaker. Someone who takes personal pain and channels it into something to improve the greater good. In the aftermath of losing her father, Sallie created Gippsland Jersey, a dairy cooperative that is 100% Gippsland made and family-owned, paying farmers a fair price for their milk while spreading awareness for mental health and producing premium pure Jersey dairy products.

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft.

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft.

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft.

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft. To not miss an episode, subscribe to our new podcast The Farm Diaries by searching for Graziher in your favourite podcast app.

Welcome to Graziher's 2nd podcast, The Farm Diaries based on our regular column written by Tasmanian based author Maggie MacKellar. In 2021, Graziher's editorial director Victoria Carey asked Maggie, an author and freelance writer she has always loved if she would pen a new column for the magazine and the The Farm Diaries was born. All about life on a fine wool Merino farm on Tasmania's east coast , Victoria knew that Graziher readers would also have read Maggie's memoirs that laid bare the grief she felt at losing loved ones and the challenges of starting life anew. The Farm Diaries started out as an extract from Maggie's farm journal that she kept during a lambing season of 2018/2019 and has become an account of daily observations of life on the farm and now we are turning the written word into the spoken work through this podcast. The Farm Diaries will be release on a Wednesday for the next six weeks with thanks to our sponsor Blundstone. Mid way through 2023 Maggie's work will be published by Penguin Books as her latest book, Graft. To not miss an episode, subscribe to our new podcast The Farm Diaries by searching for Graziher in your favourite podcast app.

Introducing a new Graziher podcast, The Farm Diaries. The Farm Diaries is regular column written by Maggie MacKellar in our Graziher magazine. In the beginning it was an extract from Maggie's farm journal kept of a lambing season in Tasmania during the 2018/2019 drought, now it's morphed to be an account of her daily observations of the coming together of human and animal life on the farm. We are bringing Maggie's words to life for Graziher's second podcast, The Farm Diaries. To listen to all of The Farm Diaries episodes, search for The Farm Diaries in your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

Welcome to Life On The Land's Summer Series where the Graziher team choose their favourite story of the year and explain how the story touched or inspired them or made them think about something in a different way.  Today we're hearing the story of Nicola Forrest, as chosen by Graziher team member, Skye Manson. 

Welcome to Life On The Land's Summer Series where the Graziher team choose their favourite story of the year and explain how the story touched or inspired them or made them think about something in a different way.  Today we're hearing the story of Samantha Armytage, as chosen by Graziher team member, Em Herbert.

Welcome to Life On The Land's Summer Series where the Graziher team choose their favourite story of the year and explain how the story touched or inspired them or made them think about something in a different way.  Today we're hearing the story of Virginia Tapscott, as chosen by Graziher's editorial director, Victoria Carey. Virginia's compelling story has resonated with so many Australians- listen here as she gives an incredible insight into some of the most personal and disturbing moments of her life.