On a remote Northern Territory cattle station, Claudia Hiscox experiences the physical and mental challenges of outback life

Rural photographer and jillaroo Claudia Hiscox grew up at Moree in New South Wales, and has been working on cattle stations in northern Australia for the past three years. Now based on Heytesbury Pastoral’s 390,400 hectare cattle station Victoria River Downs, west of Daly Waters in the Northern Territory, the 21-year-old reflects on her passion for agriculture and life in the north, along with some of the personal struggles she has faced.

With a real-estate agent as a mother and a stock agent as a father, I grew up knowing how to answer the phone in my best voice and being quizzed on different breeds of cattle as we drove past them on our way to school.

With three younger siblings, my childhood on the plains of Moree was that of a quintessential bush kid. I rode horses in the afternoon, helped look after our animals and learnt the importance of family. My mum shared with me a love of horses and from my dad I acquired a passion for agriculture.

After finishing boarding school in Toowoomba, I pushed the idea of studying nursing aside and applied for station-
hand jobs in the Northern Territory. When I landed a job on a remote station in the Victoria River district, my excitement was tenfold. With the prospect of a 3000 kilometre trip ahead of me, I packed my bags, saddle and swag and started the journey north.

Before long, my usual horizons were replaced by red dirt, long days and dusty faces. I found myself falling in love with the rhythmic and rewarding life of a station hand.

After a year of learning and finding my feet in the industry, I moved to a station on the Barkly Tableland. A stark contrast to the rocky outcrops and red clay soils I was used to, the rolling grassland plains of the Barkly became my home for the next two years. With great leaders above me, I learned so much about the industry. Four years down the beaten track,
I have now taken on a new role at Heytesbury Pastoral’s Victoria River Downs station.

Life on the land is all-consuming. It’s a dry breeze on your already-chapped face. It’s rubbing your calloused hands together as you watch a tease of rain clouds slowly roll in on a hot December afternoon. It’s the hustle and bustle of a cattle yard crew that functions like clockwork, the refreshing taste of a cool drink at the end of the day, and the atmosphere of a bush rodeo at dusk.

Bush life is not always easy, but it is tremendously fulfilling. Out here, the air is thick with camaraderie and a shared love of the simple life. I love the ever-growing opportunities that come with a career in agriculture; however, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for floppy-eared Brahmans and the near-bottomless strength of a faithful stock horse. There is so much room to grow, not only career-wise but personally as well. Working in agriculture I’ve learnt priceless life skills, and I’ve found the ability to back myself and be resilient in the face of adversity.

Although I am yet to encounter a person who has not faced hardship in their life, rural people have an unbeatable tendency to grit their teeth and come out the other side.

Throughout my life, at times I have found myself bogged down, in the grasp of depression and anxiety. Mental illness has been an unwanted friend of mine for quite some time. It’s never an easy road but, in my darkest times, I have realised that the people you surround yourself with really do matter. Mental health can be difficult to manage in remote situations, but I believe the best way is to talk about it and keep talking. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help. Without the stigma and taboo, depression’s grip loosens. Along my journey, I have learnt to keep putting one foot in front of the other, as hard as it may seem at times. It is important to remember that tough times do pass, and your strength will find a way to prevail. I live my life knowing that you never stop learning and acknowledging that there is always room to grow.

I believe things are changing and, as women in agriculture, I know we will continue to break glass ceilings. I am lucky that I have always been given a fair go. In my experience, if you have a good attitude, a willingness to learn and an eagerness to work, you will do well regardless of your gender. I’m thankful to be surrounded by so many strong, capable and trailblazing women who have demonstrated to me that anything is possible. They have never shied away from challenges and continue to kick goals with both feet. These are the women I aspire to be like.

Follow Claudia on Instagram.

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