When my Eldest Started at Boarding School

Words and photography contributed by Jessie Persse for the QLD ICPA, published in the  Graziher Boarding School Guide.

Three years ago, when my eldest started at Boarding School, I had every man and his dog ask me if I was okay. I was fine. I’d had twelve years to wrap my head around my children leaving. I had never been a Boarder, but my husband and his entire family had all experienced it. I felt fine doing the drop-off. To be honest, the day I drove out of Brisbane and headed west, alone, was pretty ordinary however. I’d had a full car only days earlier, and a full heart; brimming with excitement. And then, completely unexpectedly (or maybe it was to be expected), I felt empty.

I wasn’t working much at the time. The drought was taking its toll financially and emotionally. On the outside I was smiling, but on the inside I was struggling. I don’t think I even really fully comprehended the magnitude of what was going on. Things were slowly, without me realising it, snowballing. It wasn’t until Term 2, when our family dog died tragically, that things fell apart in epic fashion. The cracks became canyons, and it all culminated in a depressive ‘episode’ that saw me having to seek professional help. No one was more surprised than me. Depression is a long and steady road, but I’m finally feeling like myself again right now.

Here are a few things you can do to help make this transition period easier for you and your child.

  1. Crying is perfectly normal, and missing your child is to be expected. That’s okay!
  2. Don’t burden your children with your problems. If it’s a drought or a flood, financial, personal or social issues, protect your child from it as best you can. Kids are clever. They know what’s going on, and sometimes you will need to be honest about things that are unpleasant. I try to soothe any potential blow with a positive. “It’s all good. We have it under control.”
  3. Don’t take on your children’s problems. Teenagers need you to listen and be a sympathetic ear. Tell them you are listening and feel their concerns, but don’t feed the monster. If they start speaking in circles, catastrophizing, and becoming overly emotional, try picking the conversation up again at another time. Most of the time, teenagers hang up the phone and move on immediately, leaving you in a world of parental turmoil, so don’t dwell on the negative.
  4. Trust your school. You chose it for a reason. Let them do their jobs. If you have a major concern, do it in the kindest way possible, and offer your support where necessary.
  5. Get to know your child’s friends, and get involved where you can. Making connections is good for you as well.
  6. Look after yourself. Exercise, stay social and keep busy where possible.
  7. Surround yourself with your tribe. My tribe is made up of friends and family who encourage and support me and my family. It’s about bringing in the positive and not dwelling on the negative.
  8. Make quality time with your children, because quantity time becomes so much harder when they leave you.

This year we sent our second child off to school. This time I was genuinely ready. I had made plans to keep busy, but not so busy that I couldn’t find time for my children when they needed me. I was working part time. I had my support networks in place. I am honest about when I am not feeling great. Sharing the load has been the key. Other parents understand. It’s not going to be perfect all of the time, and that’s okay, but being able to talk about it has been what has gotten me through.

Jessie’s story is featured in our Graziher Boarding School Guide.

Boarding school is something that many children from rural, regional and remote areas experience in their lives. It can be one of the greatest experiences – making life long friends; getting a great education; and being offered amazing extra-curricular activities such as sports and cultural activities.

We’ve featured some amazing schools in our guide, as well as some great reads from the ICPA who do fantastic work for our rural and remote families.

View Our Boarding School Guide

The Huddle x Pip Brett Interview

Brought to you in conjunction with

Graziher caught up with  Pip Brett, Owner of  Jumbled  +  Iglou  in Orange to chat all things  The Huddle 2020

The Huddle, what is it, tell us all the things! PIP:  “I have been dreaming of this business event for years; a huddle of my favourite inspiring business owners and change-makers in one room. To have them share their tips, tricks and extraordinary tales on what makes a business successful, and what they have done to get to the point that they’re at today. You know that feeling when you hear that little pearl of wisdom that stops you in your tracks? That AH-HA moment, the game changing piece of information, the thing you have wanted to hear and needed to hear? THAT is what this event is all about! Who’s involved?    P:  I have called on my  FAVOURITE  trail-blazers, people who I have met along my business adventure who have inspired me or given me advice that I have found invaluable! We have my bestie Edwina Bartholomew from Sunrise presenting and the day will feature Phoebe Bell from Sage and Clare; Julia Green from Greenhouse Interiors; Grace Brennan – Buy from the Bush; Amy Clarke – Confetti Rebels; Tracy Turnbull – Bundle and Twine; Sophie Hansen – Local is Lovely; Katy Reed – Rolla Bottle; Melissa Robins – The Lot Co; Rebeka Morgan – Build Her Collective; Fashion Designer Briony Marsh and Stevie Dillon from Stevie Says Social. They are all INCREDIBLE! Who should come?  P:  If you own a business, work for a business, or dream of owning your own business one day – this event is for you! We have had so many people from various industries book which is so fabulous. Accountants, early educators, lawyers, retail store owners, small start-up businesses and even builders! No matter what industry you’re from, we guarantee you’ll walk away with incredibly valuable advice that you can use for yourself! Why should they come?   P:  Why shouldn’t they!? This event is going to be GAME CHANGING! What could be better than 400 like-minded women coming together in Orange for a day of TOTAL fun and inspiration!? They also get a delicious lunch and a ridiculously amazing goodie bag designed by Rachel Castle, filled to the BRIM with goodies. What will they get out of it?   P:  We will be covering four main topics including Empowerment and Purpose (how your vibe attracts your tribe), Social Media (all the best tips and tricks to build your community), Product Perfect (how to package up your product or service, collaborations and real business stories) and Retail Experience and Customer Service (how to go the extra mile for your customers both in person or digitally). What other things are happening the Huddle weekend?   P:  We still have tickets available to our incredible ‘Meet the Mentors’ Cocktail Party at The Sonic where our own special cocktails from Fizz Fellas will be served along with an EPIC grazing table by Groundstone Cafe. A great opportunity to dress up and celebrate! What type of outfits does one wear to a Huddle?   P: We’re totally embracing all the amazing colour from  iglou,  but come dressed in whatever you feel comfortable in! Any other info people should know about you or the Huddle?   P: Our $299 early bird tickets end Christmas Day! Get yours now before it goes up.  https://www.jumbledonline.com/pages/the-huddle Tickets are on sale NOW, so get cracking on organising you and your pals – or risk serious FOMO. Tickets are here: The Huddle.
All photos taken by  Clancy Job Photography  for the  #15 Winter issue of Graziher.

Muhammara Dressing and Crunchy Salad

Easy Summer Lunch

Words and recipes Sophie Hansen from Local is Lovely .

Photography Clancy Job .

The Muhammara Dressing is a recipe from the #17 Summer Graziher issue , from the “Easy Summer Lunch” feature.

On the menu:

  • Toasts with Adobe Butter and Quick Pickled Cucumber
  • Warm Lamb with Pistachio Crumb and Whipped  Feta
  • Muhammara Dressing with Crunchy Salad
  • Sponge With Rose Syrup and Strawberries (Graziher 5th Birthday Cake)

Find the above recipes in the #17 Summer issue .

Muhammara Dressing and Crunchy Salad

This is basically just my favourite, Muhammara dip loosened up with a little extra olive oil and turned into a dressing. The dip would also be beautiful with the lamb shoulder instead of or as well as the feta!

  • 1 x 250g jar roasted red capsicums
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • Juice of one lemon 
  • 3 tbsp olive oil

Drain the red capsicums and place in the bowl of a food processor, add remaining ingredients and pulse until you have a rough paste consistency. Check the taste, adjust so it’s to your liking and either serve or keep in the fridge.

For the dressing, place a couple of tablespoons of the dip in a jar and add about 3 tbsp olive oil and a little extra lemon juice. Shake to combine well, add a little water if you think it needs thinning out even more then toss with crunchy cos or iceberg lettuce.

The Bush Farewells Iconic Weengallon Pink Ladies Day

Words and photography by Grace Cobb.

Twenty years ago, when 70 women gathered in a tin shed in the Queensland town of Weengallon, they could never have known what they had started. 

LEFT TO RIGHT: WPLD President Emma Montgomery, Kellie Mitchell, hostess-with-the-mostess Sally Rigney and Georgina Donelan.

That first event was a fundraiser to buy cleaning products for their local kindy – tickets were $10 and nobody RSVP’d. It’s safe to say things have changed over the years. 

This year, the Weengallon Pink Ladies Day, drew 750 women to the tiny dot-on-the-map-town, that can be found between St George and Goondiwindi. 

It was an incredible sight; the endless red dirt and vivid blue sky punctuated by a sea of women dressed in pink. 

Best accessories winners Elaine Lennon, Paulina Allen with Kay Sevil; entry into Weengallon Pink Ladies Day; Deb Frecklington with Nicola Grummitt from Grevillea Law; a beautifully decorated day. 

Leader of the LNP, Deb Frecklington could be seen waving from behind the bar, where she was busy serving a throng of Pink Ladies an assortment of rose-tinted beverages. 

One of the most recognisable voices of the bush, Sally Nicol-Rigney could be heard welcoming guests, she is the long-time, beloved MC for the day.  

There was plenty of shopping to be done; 40 market stalls lined the outskirts of the marquee, overflowing into the hall and out the other side.  Inky and Moss from Roma, Wattle and Twine from Dalby, Dust N Boots from Warialda, and The Diamond Hunter from Goondiwindi just to name a few.  

Amy Ballinger from Wattle and Twine wearing Melenco Designs; Chrystal Henry and Jodie Tweedy from Love Henry.

The Diamond Hunter, Christina Duddy donated a pink morganite and diamond ring to be raffled on the day, nothing ruffles the feathers of a few hundred women like a beautiful piece of jewelry. Local lass, Leah Turkington from Talwood taking home the coveted prize.   

Weengallon Pink Ladies Day isn’t all champagne and shopping, it is also a major fundraiser. Directing hundreds of thousands of dollars to breast cancer services in the local area. 

Incredibly, fundraising from the Weengallon Pink Ladies Day has seen the employment of vital Breast Cancer Nurses in both St George and Goondiwindi. Funds from the day have also enabled the BPCAQ (Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland) to give targeted grants of up to $2000 to local patients. There is also the Weengallon Pink Ladies Day room at the Olive McMahon Lodge in Toowoomba that provides free accommodation for cancer patients and their carers.  

 Jean Prow and Bec Ryan who made the trip from Dalby; Wendy Schmalkuche and Sarah Crothers.

Each Pink Ladies Day features a Rabobank guest speaker, in years past they have shared stories of fighting and winning against breast cancer. This year’s guest speaker Leanne Murphy, shared an entirely different, poignant and heartbreakingly honest story. 

What if you knew you couldn’t win?

Leanne, a 53 -years-young cattle producer, is currently undergoing cancer treatment at St Andrews Hospital. Leanne was first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which she has now lived with for three years. Leanne now also has secondary cancer in her bowel and bone Mets. 

Kym Campbell, inspiring guest speaker Leanne Murphy and Julie Tonscheck.

Leanne was taken aback by her diagnosis, especially given her biannual mammograms and colonoscopies. Leanne shared her rollercoaster of emotions, wading through medical terms, testing and treatment. Then making it to and past her daughter’s wedding. Despite knowing the prognosis isn’t good, Leanne says she has never asked her oncologist her life expectancy. “I’m not dying from metastatic cancer, I’m living with it,” Leanne said. 

Local artist Ashleigh MvNaulty with her artwork she donated to the festivities.

More than $10,000 was raised in the BW Rural Art Auction, breaking records.  “I think the corresponding success of Weengallon is because we’ve always had one goal; to have a good time while doing something good for a worthwhile cause,” says Sally Nicol-Rigney.  

After 20 years, there have been rumours abound that 2019 is the final Weengallon Pink Ladies Day. 

“You have to realise there are ladies on this Committee who started off with babies on their hips and now those babies are having babies. 20 years is quite a long time,” Sally jokingly pointed out. 

President Emma Montgomery confirmed that it will be the last event as we know it. However, the committee has been approached by a third party interested in taking over the event.

Lydia Woods and Sarah Turner from Country Peonies Millinery; Liberal MP Deb Frecklington and Ian Rigney behind the bar; Committee member Tiz Mulkey.

The committee went all out to make 20 years a celebration to remember. “We wanted to really celebrate our day in the red dirt country that has brought such joy, inspiration and support to so many,” Emma said.

 “If this is the end then it’s o.k.  Because we’ve had one hell of a wild, wonderful, robust ride,” Sally added.

“We’ve proven we are the little community that could. 20 years of luscious lunch and laughter with good friends, great food and even better shopping.”  

The magic of Weengallon’s Pink Ladies Day is the balance of the light and the dark; bringing the important subject of breast cancer to the forefront of our minds, and raising essential funds all while being a hell of a lot of fun. 

Why I Feel Guilty to be a Farmer’s Daughter


Why I Feel Guilty to be a Farmer’s Daughter

Words by Sally Taylor
Photography from Hannah Hacon – Photographer

From the “Your Say” feature in the #15 Winter issue of Graziher magazine.  

Braced with nothing but an Agricultural Science degree from Sydney University and fond memories of visiting his family’s hobby farm when he was a child, my dad gave up his life in Sydney and moved to Moree in his late thirties to “have a go” at farming.

His plan was to stay for five years, to see what he could achieve on the land and then continue the life he and my mum had back in the city – it was a business move for him, a job opportunity. 27(ish) years, two children, lots of local friendships and a fair share of highs and lows later, my brilliant dad and beautiful mum are still there, working harder than ever on their farm well into their sixties. No longer a business move, now a lifestyle unimaginable any other way. Part of that lifestyle: adversity.

I feel guilty about being a farmer’s daughter because while my dad is dealing with the relentless drought, animal rights lobbyists publishing his personal details online and other external pressures, he has never stopped encouraging my brother and I – both in our twenties – to live our best lives in the city, both of us hundreds of kilometres away from life on the farm and neither fully committed to the possibility of one day taking the farm off his hands. No matter how difficult things at home have been, not once has he asked us to go home and help him.

I feel guilty because I haven’t been more of a campaigner for farmers like my parents. I notice more and more everyday how much my friends from the city – as gorgeous as they all are – really don’t have much of an idea what it is like for our farmers in regional Australia right now, given metropolitan media attention surrounding the drought is now somewhat “old news”. I feel guilty because even I – whose parents have worked their bums off to give me the life I am lucky to be living now – forget that there is a world outside of Bondi Beach and that I wouldn’t be eating fresh meat and vegetables in my cotton garments if it wasn’t for our farmers.

This is more of a letter to myself, a commitment to use my platform as a media professional to bring more awareness to the fact just because attention surrounding the drought isn’t as prevalent in mainstream media as it was last year, it is still a huge issue. A commitment to reiterating that regional adversities like the drought happen in country Australia frequently and relentlessly; they are ongoing and diverse in nature. One minute the ground is cracking apart from dryness, and the next seedlings are squashed from a ruthless, unpredicted hail storm.

One minute our farmers are labelled heroes, the next they are labelled “unethical” or “water thieves”. Farmers like my parents will be fine because they are resilient and, well, they just have to be fine. They will keep plugging away like they are now until they can’t anymore. In the meantime, I will do more to remind myself that life in the city is easy because of them – there is a whole economy out there in the regions without which our cities – in which we all live in so comfortably – would crumble. 

“Your Say” is a new feature in the Graziher magazine. It is our community’s space to put forward any ideas, thoughts or words that relate to rural life. Send in your piece (no more than 650 words) to editor@graziher.com.au with “Graziher Your Say” as the subject line, or, submit it here. 

Letters To The Editor – #15 Winter


Letters To The Editor

Photography from Hannah Hacon – PhotographerThese Letters to the Editor were published in our #15 Winter issue of Graziher magazine. 

WINNER Dear Graziher,

I just wanted to pen this short letter of gratitude to all the women across Australia for doing what they do every day, and to you, for highlighting it. I am a backpacker from Ireland and I have been here for just over six months now. Almost two months ago, I replied to an ad on GumTree, and ended up on a cattle property outside of Tambo. To say it was a culture shock was an understatement, but I have fallen head over heels in love with the way of life here in the Outback. I am working for a wonderful family who have taught me so much, but what has really struck me is how involved and active Amanda (mother of the family) is. Coming from a country where women in agriculture is mostly administration jobs and ‘helping out’ instead of doing, it has been awesome for me to see a woman take charge. I love reading your publication (several copies of which were handed to me during my first week here) and hearing about all the women out there just like Amanda, who love their land and their cattle, and find the balance between their yard work and their housework on a daily basis. You are all incredible. My time in Tambo is nearly up but I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked here. Thank you all for showing me this way of life.

Kate Dullea

Dear Graziher,

Thank you for always being such an inspiring and pleasant read. I come from a very small country town on a cattle property and moved to Brisbane to study nursing. I have recently completed a rural placement in Toowoomba and love the rural nursing setting. Being able to read the stories in your magazine inspire me to go back to the rural areas and undertake my nursing there. Each and every women’s story of their commitment to the land and passion to continue to live and raise families on properties even after the devastation of floods, fires and droughts is inspiring and one day I hope to be able to do the same.

Angela Walker

Dear Graziher,

I moved to Melbourne from Canada just over 2 years ago, where I grew up in a small town with much of my teenage summers spent on my family’s large cattle ranch. The past two years have been so hard, from feeling displaced in a big city to losing my young cousin who ran the ranch back home in Canada. I picked up your Spring 2018 copy on my way to a holiday last year and instantly felt at home, a connection I hadn’t felt since moving to Australia. The amazing women you feature remind and inspire me of life outside the city and your photojournalism transports me to the familiar feeling of rural life that I know so well. I have especially loved the stories from ‘Inside the Farm Gate’, which are all so relatable and inspiring to share the stories of women we can only hope to be! Thank you for helping this Canadian girl to feel a little less far away from home.
Kind Regards,

Sarah Howe

Dear Graziher team!

First off I would like to thank you for making an awesome magazine! I haven’t come across a magazine like this one. The graziher is such my type of mag, it’s country, about the land, fashion and cooking. But most of all it contains stories on real Aussie farmers that I can relate too. I have continued to read the magazine over and over each week. I still can’t wait till the next mag is out so I can buy it straight away. Thank you thank you thank you! I love it.

Tarni Nottle

Share your Graziher moments with us with a “Letters to the Editor”. 
Send in letters to editor@graziher.com.au with “Letters to the Editor” as subject line, or, fill our out “Letters To The Editor” form. 
Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity. 
Each issue, one letter will win a Graziher picnic rug, valued at $165.00

Workwear 101

What makes good workwear? Is it sleeves that won’t shrink? Boots that won’t bust? Pockets for phones? It might be a fashion statement. Maybe you dress purely for comfort. Or it could be dressing for the seasons – loose, and breathable fabrics in summer and layers for winter. However you choose your workwear, you want it to last, be comfortable and ideally affordable. 

Working in the Australian bush means you’ll be coming up against some fun things – the harsh sun with UV rays; wildlife – snakes, ants, spiders; and the old graziher’s nemesis – barbed wire. 

With all these factors in mind, your workwear choice for the day will want to be a smart one. 

We sent out the question to our Graziher Instagram community (come join us!), “What’s your favourite workwear?”. 

The answers didn’t disappoint! We’ve rounded up all the answers below. Did we miss any of your favourite brands? Let us know here. 

Shirts

Rb Sellars

Antola Trading 

Just Country 

Graziher x Just Country

Thomas Cook 

Bullrush 

Dust n Boots

Ringers Western 

Rite Mate

Nungar

RM Williams 

King Gee

Brumby 

Grovers

Jeans

Ariat

Bullzye

Cowgirl Tuff

Kimes Ranch

Wrangler 

Cruel Girl 

Levi’s 

RB Sellars

K-Mart & Kmart high waist stretch** notable mention

Cinch – men’s range ** notable mention

Wranglers – men’s range * notable mention

Bullrush jillaroo

Hard Yakka

Target ** notable mention

Blue Dogs

Ringers Western 

Sussan ** notable mention

Circle L 

Pilgrims 

Rough Riders

Pure Western

Vinnies jeans ** notable mention

Boots

Ariat

Roper

Blundstone

Redbacks

Blue Steel 

Mongrels

Big W – KT26s ** notable mention

Tony Llamas

Volleys ** notable mention

Boulet

Twisted X

Nike runners ** notable mention

Hard Yakka 

RM Williams

Baxter

She Wear

Oliver ATs

Red Wings

Froggers Bush Boot

Kader

Rossi 

Thomas Cook 

Hats

Jaxonbilt

Akubra

Cannard

Sunbody Hats

Graziher caps

American Hat Co 

Circle I Western wear

Seratelli

Ringers Western 

Ariat

Resistol

BELTS

RM Williams

Angus Barrett

Kent Saddlery

Ringers Western

Pure Western

RA Leather

Dublin

Vinnies ** notable mention

Toowoomba Saddlery 

Wrangler

Scobies Saddlery

Stitch & Hyde

Tenterfield Saddler

Roo Blue Australia

What 2 Wear

Paroo Patch

Scarves

Sassy Scarves

Moble Liberty

Max & Jelli

Five Fillies

Whippin Wild Rags

Rustic Cowgirl Designs

Apple Tree Flat

Zoe Hays

Country Sewn

G&E Boutique

Frankly Peach 

Ringers Western

Bulldust Designs

Silverleaf scarves

Circle B

Canvas & Lime

Sweet Little Cactus

Prim & Co

Riverleigh Creations

Rosedale Country

Stampede Studio Co

And that’s it for our workwear feature – did we miss a brand you love? Leave a comment and let us know, or let us know here. 

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Chocolate … a timeless classic that never gets dull. Teamed with beautiful citrus flavours from a combination of fresh oranges and the Cointreau, this delicious combination gives a lovely decadence set to warm your heart in the cooler months of winter. Enjoy!

Photography and Styling Rachael Lenehan.

Find this recipe and more in our Winter issue, on sale now. 

Flourless Chocolate Cake With Oranges in Cointreau Syrup

Serves 8 – 10

Ingredients – Cake

5 eggs (whites and yolks separated and at room temp)

200 g unsalted butter, chopped.

200 g dark chocolate, chopped.

200 g milk chocolate, chopped.

salt

white vinegar 

Ingredients – Syrup

4 large oranges 

3 tbsp Cointreau 

1 cup water

2/3 cup sugar

HOW TO

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees fan forced. Grease and line a 23 cm spring-form tin.

Over a low heat, melt the chocolate and the butter.

Once the eggs are separated, whip the egg yolks until light and thick. With the whites, add a drop or two of white vinegar and a pinch of salt. Whip the whites until thick and white.

Gently fold the chocolate into the yolk mixture, and then gently follow with the whites.

Once evenly mixed, place in the tin and bake for 30 minutes, keeping an eye on the oven.

When the cake comes out of the oven, it will be high and then will sink down. Pop aside to cool completely.

Meanwhile, with the sauce, peel the oranges and then slice the edges off to create a hexagonal type shape. Then, cut into discs. Place the oranges on a
flat tray.

Tip the Cointreau over the oranges.

Put the sugar and the water in a saucepan and bring to boil. You want the sugar to be completely dissolved and syrup-like. Take off the heat, and carefully tip over the oranges, and pop aside to cool.

When you’re ready to serve, you can go one of two ways: pop the oranges in the syrup on the centre of the cake, or slice the cake up in wedges and serve with the oranges and a dollop of fresh cream.

Notes

  • In terms of how you cut the oranges, the hexagonal shape is the easiest, but if you have the time and wish to segment the oranges, by all means, do – it’s just very time-consuming.
  • The cake can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge.
  • Grand Marnier would be a lovely substitute for Cointreau. 

This recipe is from our “Bakehouse” section in our 2019 Winter issue, available here. 

Sara Grills

Sara Grills has lived and breathed stock horses her whole life, from using them on her family’s farm as a child and utilising their skill and agility during polocrosse matches, to successfully breeding them through the family business, Berragoon ASH Stud in Holbrook NSW.  The Grills family (Lucy, Jim and Abbott are all on the  2019 Australian Polocrosse World Cup team,  left Albury on Tuesday and will arrive in Warwick on Friday. They are bringing 25 World Cup horses with them and 9 Barastoc horses.

Frasers Transport have loaned them a truck and trailer (and driver) so that they could get all of these horses up to Warwick. It’s a BIG exercise to get these horses up here!

We spoke to Sara about her love for the Australian Stock Horse, Berragoon’s involvement in the  Adina 2019 Polocrosse World Cup , and why she chooses to lend some of their best horses (and breeders!) to strangers.


How long have you been breeding Australian Stock Horses?
My mum started in 1974, not long after the Australian Stock Horse Society was formed. We had a family property at Hay and horses had always been a big part of our lives. We used Stock Horses on the farm and my sister and I were involved in pony club. I joined the business in 1979 when I finished school, so have been involved in breeding for nearly 40 years. My husband Charlie, sister Debbie and I took over the business in 1987 and have been running it ever since.

Tell us more about Berragoon?

Berragoon is a stock horse stud on 4,000 acres at Holbrook, NSW. We specialize in artificial breeding and help to make the process easy and accessible for all interested horse owners. Many of our superior mares are polocrosse horses, so the artificial breeding allows us to breed progeny from them without taking them out of the competitive circuit. Rather than breeding one foal each year from a valuable mare, we can breed multiple. We also work closely with horse owners and help them to purchase embryos and manage the artificial breeding process. We complete all embryo procedures and transplant embryos into recipient mares. Debbie, Charlie and I have been running the stud since 1987, taking over from my mother, and now our children, Lucy and Jim, and their partners, Matt Davison and Katie Wills are integral to the stud’s success. It is a true family business!

Recipient mares and foals

How did you become involved in Polocrosse?
Polo and Polocrosse have been a big part of both Charlie’s and my family. It probably dates back to the late 1800s when my great grandfather was a member of NSW’ first polo team. We still have his silks, which is pretty special! Mum has always been interested in Polocrosse but my Dad wasn’t allowed near a horse as he was the heir to a large family property and it was seen as too risky. Charlie is one of 12 siblings, some of whom have been involved in playing at polocrosse at a national level, as have many of his nieces and nephews. A number of them have also played at International level.

I started playing polocrosse when I was a young adult, and Charlie started when he was nine years old. We have both played at national level for NSW. Charlie is still coaching and playing. Me – not so much these days! The kids have obviously followed in our footsteps, with both Lucy and Jim playing at national and international levels, with the highlight being the 2015 World Cup in South Africa. They are both now in line for a spot on the 2019 Australian World Cup team, which is being played in QLD in April 2019. Around 180 stock horses are required for the World Cup.

How are these horses sourced?

In the 12 months leading up to the World Cup, three Australian horse scouts start visiting matches across Queensland, Victoria and NSW to see which horses are performing. They will be looking for toughness, speed, endurance, resilience and agility. They select men’s and women’s horses and grade them, then approach the owners to see if they will put them forward. All of the World Cup horses are put into a pool to ensure the selection process is fair across all teams, and that all teams have an even spread of graded horses. We provided five horses for the 2003 World Cup, when our kids had just started playing polocrosse, and another five in 2007 when our kids were playing juniors.

Given the breeding and playing value of many of your horses, why do you agree to loan them out for the World Cup?
We are lucky to currently have quite a few nice polocrosse horses at Berragoon, which means that we can loan out A grade horses while keeping a few of our most valuable breeding mares safely back at the stud. It is really important to loan high quality horses – the sport relies on it. We have become even more attuned to this since our kids started playing at a national and international level. We rely on others to loan horses so our kids can perform at their best, and we do the same in return. We do it to support the sport. It can be a risk as you don’t want your horses suffering an injury, but it is a low risk and the benefits outweigh any of the negatives. There’s nothing better than seeing one of your horses perform on the field, whether it be with a young junior player, or seeing a B grade horse turn into A grade magic when paired with a world-class player – almost as exciting as watching the kids play! The event organisers take great care of the horses, covering all feeding costs, vet checks, and insurances. It’s also good promotion for the stud, as our horses are showcased in front of the 60,000 spectators that attend the event.

How many horses will you be loaning for the 2019 Adina Polocrosse World Cup?
We aren’t sure just yet – the scouts are still finalising their lists but I am sure we will be approached soon enough. We usually sit down as a family and discuss the best horses to loan. Charlie and the kids regularly ride the horses in polocrosse matches so they are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to which horses are performing the best. We are looking forward to seeing a few Berragoon horses take to the field in 2019!

The  Polocrosse World Cup  will be held in  Warwick, QLD from 22-28 April 2019 . Polocrosse is one of only three home-grown Australian sports, along with Aussie Rules football and Campdraft. The 2019 Polocrosse World Cup will attract 300 competitors from around the world, 2,000 international guests and 60,000 spectators, making it the largest international sporting event ever held in rural Australian.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support the 2019 Polocrosse World Cup, which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Your perfect next event is in Queensland where live events combine with the most incredible destinations, and life is beautiful one day, perfect the next.

Lucy and Matt breaking in a Bonlac Gigolo filly out of Berragoon Hallie (Berragoon Rebel).

Suzette Thomas

Suzette Thomas from Muchea, WA is one of four females who will represent Australia in the  Adina Polocrosse World Cup 2019 , taking place in  Warwick, QLD from 22-28 April 2019.   Suzette is a country girl through and through, and we spoke to her to find out how she juggles her polocrosse commitments, start up business, and raising a family in rural WA. Read more Suzette’s story in our  #13 Summer magazine

Suzette Thomas’ first memory of polocrosse was watching her dad, granddad and uncles play in the back paddock of the family farm in Boddington, WA. Suzette’s great grandfather, who came to Australia on a boat from Ireland, purchased the 50 acre parcel of land in the middle of a jarrah forest, and cleared it single-handedly using a horse drawn carriage.

Horses and riding had always been a big part of life on the farm, so it only seemed natural that their chosen sport would involve the much-loved animal.

Sadly, Suzette’s father died when she was four years old, leaving her mum to raise her and her three sisters. Her brother had also passed away five years earlier, tragically drowning when he was two years old. Despite the challenges Suzette’s mother faced – raising four young children, grieving the loss of a child and husband, and managing a property – she made sure that the girl’s had a fantastic childhood.

The girls loved being on the property and all had jobs to do. They would help their grandfather with the cattle, and on school holidays they would stay with their aunty and uncle on their sheep and wheat farm in Boddington, where they would help muster the sheep on horseback.

At the age of seven, Suzette joined her sisters and began playing polocrosse. Anyone involved in horse sports knows the commitment required – both financially and time-wise – and Suzette’s mother, not being a ‘horse person’ herself, made sure that the four girls got to every practice and competition, and had everything they needed to play the sport they loved.

Suzette said that at age 35, she is a ‘veteran’ of the women’s section and will be focusing on her training and fitness in the lead up to the World Cup.

“Polocrosse is a fast-paced, physically and mentally challenging sport, so not only do you need to be working on your game skills, but also your fitness, riding and response times,” Suzette said.

“This year’s team is really exciting, with some seasoned representative players as well as young up-and-coming players. We all bring something different to the team. As one of the older members, I have to work really hard to keep up with the younger ones, so gym work, racquet skills (both on and off the horse), riding and running are all part of my weekly training routine.”

“Polocrosse is definitely a sport that you need to be committed to. Since I was seven, I have been travelling to games every weekend during the season, and it generally means an overnight stay. While it is a big commitment, it is also what I love about the sport. It’s a full weekend away with the family. This is also why the polocrosse community is really close-knit – we spend a lot of time together. I also love that it is a sport the whole family can play. My four kids all ride and play and my husband has played for WA and been in the Australian Squad in the past. There really is no other sport quite like it!” she said.

Suzette played for Australia in the 2007 World Cup in Warwick, which was the last World Cup Australia won, and has also represented Australia on numerous occasions since including her most recent representations in the South Africa Women’s Test in 2017 and the Zambia Test in July 2018. She captained the WA women’s team at the Darwin Nationals in 2012, which they won, coached by her husband and with one of her sisters as a team mate. In October 2018, she played for WA at the Australian Nationals in Perth, alongside her three sisters.

On top of her polocrosse commitments, Suzette recently opened her own business, a swim school in Muchea.

“Having had a brother who drowned at a young age, I have always been extremely passionate about making sure children learn to swim,” Suzette said.

“I realised there was a gap in the market as there was no year-round swimming facility in the area and people were having to travel 40 minutes one way to access these services – not ideal for children! I wanted to create something locally to ensure all children were able to learn this important life skill.”

“It has been an incredibly long process – over four years just to get the building started. There has been lots of red tape and road blocks, as we built the school from scratch, and there are a huge number of health and safety requirements that come with running a swimming facility. I finally started building in August 2017 and the facility officially opened in January 2018.”

“While the business is still in start up phase, I’m happy with the way things are going and the response from the local community has been wonderful. Some days I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew, but when you are truly passionate about something, it keeps you going!” she said.

The  Polocrosse World Cup  will be held in  Warwick, QLD from 22-28 April 2019 . Polocrosse is one of only three home-grown Australian sports, along with Aussie Rules football and Campdraft. The 2019 Polocrosse World Cup will attract 300 competitors from around the world, 2,000 international guests and 60,000 spectators, making it the largest international sporting event ever held in rural Australian.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support the 2019 Polocrosse World Cup, which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Your perfect next event is in Queensland where live events combine with the most incredible destinations, and life is beautiful one day, perfect the next.

LOVE A LONG LUNCH

Does anyone else have a thing for rearranging furniture? I’ve been known to rearrange the entire contents of our living room from time to time, a task that involves dragging round the couches (oh the mess I find underneath) which generally results in a stubbed toe courtesy of our coffee table – ouch!

The real inconvenient part lies in my need to move the telly to it’s new home a couple of metres to the left. I rip out what feels like hundreds of cords, which I never seem to get around to putting back in (much to the households delight) only to change it all back to how it was, within a day or two.

The start of spring is a good time to do a bit of a clean out. Dust off the ol’ cobwebs so to speak. While you’re at it, why not throw a couple of chairs under each arm and lug the table outside looking for a shady spot. I enlist Cork Daddy, my man mountain, who earned his stripes (and beer money) moving furniture around for a removalist company during uni days.

There’s something that little bit special about eating outside and a lazy Sunday at home is a great time to invite some family or friends around for a long lunch. You’ve gotta love a long lunch. Now I’m not talking about some big extravagant affair, just whip up something easy like this grilled lamb and roast sweet potato salad, made even easier by the fact that you can palm off the cooking of the meat to someone on the barbie (there I go again – always delegating.) The quinoa bulks it up a bit and the freshness of the minted yoghurt dressing also works a treat.

The change of scenery will give it that real sense of occasion and you know what they say – a change is as good as a holiday.

Just make sure you get a hand hauling it all back inside.

For more recipe ideas, head to  loskitchen.com.au 

Grilled lamb salad recipe

Ingredients 

750 grams of lamb backstrap
1 x large sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 x cup of quinoa
1 x red capsicum, cut in to fine strips
2 x Lebanese cucumbers, peeled and sliced
A good handful of baby spinach leaves
200 grams of feta cheese, crumbled
60 grams of pine nuts, toasted 
A good drizzle of olive oil 
A good drizzle of maple syrup
A couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves removed (or a sprinkling of dried rosemary)A drizzle of caramelised balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Mint yoghurt dressing

5 x tablespoons of natural yoghurt
The juice of half a lemon
A good handful of fresh mint
1 x garlic clove, crushed
A light sprinkling of ground cumin
Salt and freshly cracked pepper

  • Place the sweet potato and rosemary in a baking dish, drizzle with maple syrup and olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast at 200℃ for 30-40 minutes or until cooked. (I turn the sweet potato over half way through the cooking time).
  • Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to packet instructions. (I use 1 x cup of rinsed quinoa to 2 x cups of water. Bring it to the boil and then back the heat off to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Leave the quinoa to sit off the heat for 10 minutes with the lid on, before fluffing up with a fork). Set aside.
  • Toast the pine nuts in a dry frypan and set aside.
  • To cook the lamb – season both sides with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Heat a griddle pan or bbq to med-high heat and add the lamb fillets. Sear on the first side for approx 3-5 minutes before turning over and cooking for another couple of minutes or until cooked to your liking. 
  • To make the dressing, simply add all ingredients to a large jar or container and using a stick mixer, blitz together until smooth.
  • Just before you’re ready to serve – toss the quinoa, baby spinach leaves, cucumber and capsicum together and arrange on a large platter.
  • Scatter over the sweet potato and pine nuts. 
  • Slice the lamb against the grain and lay over the top of the salad.
  • Add the feta cheese and then drizzle some caramelised vinegar and olive oil over the salad. Season with salt and pepper from a height.
  • Pour the mint yoghurt dressing over the top or take it to the table in a jug for your guests to help themselves.

 Words and photography by Lo Corcoran

ZOE HAYES

“So we’ll just start off with some simple questions like who are you; who is Zoe Hayes?”

A question I’ve found so daunting in the last few weeks. I don’t really know where it came from or how I ended up here but here I am, making my small impact on the world and it’s humbling to say the least.

Hi I’m Zoe Hayes a ’94 model originally born in Norfolk, United Kingdom raised in Perth, Western Australia. An only child and by the age of twelve a child of divorce. A passionate animal lover it’s a no brainer I ended up working with animals in my career. Now a full time Jillaroo working in North/ West Queensland on a cattle station, a self made entrepreneur with two small businesses & dreams of one day becoming a public speaker.

As many of us know in early January of 2018 our rural industry was shocked with the devastating loss of a young girl Dolly Everett bullied so traumatically she took her own life. See I’ve heard of hundreds of suicides over the last few years of people I never knew, never heard of before but when scrolling through social media & seeing how many hearts Dolly touched; including my own I knew it was my time to do something. Having previously written small women empowering women article for a friend’s blog it was picked up by a few journalists who then saw my connection with mental health & suicide. In September 2012 my mum took her own life after years of struggling with depression. Having gone through a lot of this all on my own I too was left feeling like I had no hope. Its now 2018 and somehow with an incredible network of people surrounding me I’m stronger than ever & wanting to share my experiences & story with whomever is willing to listen.

Being out on remote properties can sometimes leave you bored in your down times so I turned on my creativity creating two small business when I heard about Dolly’s death I wanted to help in anyway I could so that when I decided to donate 10% of my proceeds from Made By zoehayes_eaton towards Beyond Blue raising money & awareness for mental health & suicide; well it seemed to just blow up over night I was inundated with orders & people reaching out to me wanting to know “who is Zoe Hayes” “what is your message” my idea for the #DollupDepression came in wanting to create vibrant & colorful creations to be a conversation starter.

Its simple really I’m just your average twenty three year old who had a bit of a tough upbringing & lost my mum when I was seventeen years old. Now working in an industry I’m extremely passionate about & have the urge to help others in the world that may be suffering like my mum & I have. Ever since the day police informed me of my mothers death I’ve always said, “If I can prevent just one other family going through the pain I’ve felt; then all my suffering would be worth it” 

I’m human, real, raw & as authentic as it comes, I have flaws and make mistakes, I have good days & I have some really below average days but that’s ok because I know that every time the sun goes down its just a chance for a new day to rise again.

Its so cliché but honestly if I can get to where I am today, believing in myself then you reading this right now can too!

ALICE FARGHER // BUSH THERAPY

Alice, can you squeeze my hand?” 
Lying on an operating table, the fluorescent surgical lights are shining in on Alice’s brain tissue, and the surgeons are asking her questions. A circular piece of her skull has been removed and is sitting on a stainless steel trolley across the room. A sea of blue scrubs and white hospital walls surround her. The surgeons are leaning in, talking to their patient while probing the tissue to discern what is malignant tumour and what is brain. This kind of surgery would normally be performed under general anaesthetic, but they need Alice to be awake so they can see her reaction if they are probing in the wrong place. It will ultimately allow the surgeons to remove more of the tumour and give it less chance of growing back. If she can’t answer their questions, they know in advance that they are about to remove part of her brain and are able to avoid causing irreparable damage. She can hear the drilling on her skull and can feel the vibrations. She is aware of a tugging sensation as they peel back the fine membrane holding her second largest organ together and begin to slice. She needs the surgeon to remove as much of the tumour as possible, because her six week old daughter is waiting for her outside.

This is an excerpt from our 2018 Summer Graziher magazine –  available online here. 

Issue #09 – Summer 2018, Vol 3.
Words by Virginia Tapscott
Photography by Peter MacDonald

While Alice is put back to sleep for recovery, samples of the tumour are sent away for testing. In a few days, the biopsy will tell them that Alice is now dealing with a more aggressive form of cancer than the one first diagnosed in 2015. In the weeks that follow surgery, Alice’s head is beamed with high-energy radiotherapy in an attempt to kill any aggressive cancer cells that remain. Her hair falls out, because radiation doesn’t just target cancer; it targets any rapidly multiplying cells in its path. After six weeks of daily treatments, it is a relief to finally leave the city behind and make the 500 kilometre journey back home to Angorichina Station. The soft, green lawn surrounding the 160 year old stone homestead gives way to 155,000 acres of rocky, red hills, dry creek beds and towering blue gums. The harshness of the land outside the house yard is stark in contrast, but it’s still easy to see how these settings provide comfort for a recovering cancer patient. Sitting on a rug on the lawn, tickling the feet of a gurgling, smiling baby, it is difficult to imagine the trauma Alice and her family have experienced in the past two years.

At 28 years old, Alice started experiencing mood changes and began to feel constantly run down. On New Year’s Eve she was visiting her boyfriend, Ed, at the sheep and cropping farm he was managing, when she collapsed from a seizure. After an initial misdiagnosis, specialists found a tumour the size of an apple on her brain. Symptoms that Alice had initially thought were caused by depression related to the stresses of living and working in isolation, had actually been triggered by the size and the pressure of the tumour. Alice was admitted to hospital the same day and went under the knife a week later, after doctors managed to reduce the swelling. “That was a week of complete unknown,” she explains. “It was awful, just not knowing what to expect. I remember asking the surgeon if I would still be alive at Christmas. I’d only been with Ed for two months at the time, and I told him to run while he still could, but he stayed and kept me in positive spirits. He met lots of my family and friends under less than desirable circumstances.”

Ed wasn’t about to let anything get in the way of their relationship. Not even the lab results that told them the tumour had been a Stage 2 Astrocytoma and nor the prognosis that there was an 80% chance the tumour would return within the next two years. Instead, he suggested that Alice move to the farm he was managing to be closer to major hospitals and specialists. This would prove crucial in aiding her recovery, as it also allowed her to access important mental health support frequently, as well as therapies such as yoga and meditation. “Trying to live with that prognosis in the back of my mind was difficult, but I turned to meditation and yoga, which allowed me to block it out of my mind just so it didn’t exist at all,” Alice remembers. The move also cemented their relationship, and the man himself became an important factor in her recovery. Alice believes his positivity has been an essential part of coping during toughest times. “Eddie just loves life,” she says. “He is very easy going, hard working and caring, but most importantly he is a larrikin and makes me laugh every day, even at his own expense.”

In July 2016, Alice and Ed were excited and shocked to find out they were pregnant. Alice’s tumour had been stable for 18 months and they had already made the decision to move home to Alice’s parents’ station in the Flinders Ranges. They planned to take over management of the property the following year and allow her parents to ease into retirement. Ed was excited about the new challenges that lay ahead, and Alice was fulfilling a lifelong dream to eventually return home to carry on the enterprise her family had created. “Young Eloise is now sixth generation on the property, so there is a lot of history tied to the place, and we just wanted to give our daughter the same opportunities we have had,” Alice explains.

Alice’s busy planning for the new baby and their new lives together was brought to a grinding halt by a routine MRI scan. “I thought I had it beaten, but when I was six months pregnant they told me the tumour had returned and a resection was necessary.” Alice had six weeks before her brain surgery to get to know her newborn. During this time she was undergoing an extensive psychological screening process, to ensure she was mentally prepared to undergo a rare kind of surgery called Brain Mapping, meaning the surgery is performed while the patient is still awake. “They wanted to go harder the second time, knowing that I’d just become a mum,” Alice remembers. “Being awake allowed them to get more of the tumour than they would have if I was completely anaesthetised. The tumour and brain look very similar, so there was a risk that they could take brain, thinking it was tumour. With me being awake and them using a stimulator and requesting a response from me, they knew that they were only taking tumour.”


This is an excerpt from our 2018 Summer Graziher magazine – available via our stockists and all decent newsagents, or available online here. 

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AIRLIE TRESCOWTHICK | THE FARM TABLE

This interview was published as a collaboration by the team at Creative Consulting and Graziher is proud to support their month-long series of #ruralregional women.

What inspires you?

That question makes me smile because my mind fills up immediately with so many different thoughts and people. Of all the strong women, small business owners, farmers, my family, my partner, my friends, the land… Things and people that are real and tangible and are truly living and grasping life with both hands, day in, day out.

How did your project/business idea come about?

I was living and working back on my family farm a few year ago. I had just returned from Canada where I did my Masters and I knew in my heart that returning to my job in Melbourne was not the right path for me.

My future was in agriculture and the first step for me was to start back where I grew up. I committed myself to learning as much as I could from my Dad in order to understand what he and Mum had built to create such a wonderful upbringing and future for my brother and myself.

But, although I grew up on the farm and had studied agricultural economics, I had so, so much to learn. I loved learning beside Dad in the paddock each day and discussing all things farming at night. But, I knew to be truly valuable to my family farm, I needed to couple in-paddock learning with my own learning outside of that.

So, I turned online to continue to upskill and engage with my ongoing learning. But unfortunately, it brought a lot of frustration. Google doesn’t seem to understand agriculture too well, so you can lose hours upon hours without getting to an answer you need. A central platform to bring together the industry’s collective knowledge wasn’t’ there, so I set out to solve the problem.

What stage is your project/business in?

The Farm Table 2.0 is set to launch soon (on November 9 – eeeeeek). The first iteration was super-DIY while I worked fulltime and really understood the problem that existed. I have committed the last 11 months fulltime to go back to the original problem and then committed to solving it in order to make the online experience of farmer’s better.

What were you doing before you launched your business/project?

I was working on farm and then fulltime for Paraway Pastoral Company, Macquarie Banks farming entity. It was an incredible experience, meaning the Farm Table took a back seat, only getting my attention before and after work hours and on the weekend.

Pop over and read Airlie’s story published via Creative Consulting – the full interview here.

CARLIE OATES | CURATORS COLLECTIVE

This interview was published as a collaboration by the team at Creative Consulting and Graziher is proud to support their month-long series of #ruralregional women.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by hard work and mothers who can multitask effortlessly.

How did your project/business idea come about?

I worked in publishing for over 10 years in Sydney. We lived in Bondi and loved our life, but after a career in magazines we wanted to start a family and the country landscape started calling – perhaps it was my Bowral roots surfacing. When we moved to Jugiong I always had a dream of bringing my knowledge of fashion and interiors to the beautiful community, it wasn’t until Poppy was born they I decided to finally tackle my Jugiong dream and opened Curators Collective just over a year ago.

What stage is your project/business in?

Curators Collective is in full swing. We have a retail shop in the heart of Jugiong and an online boutique that mirrors what is currently in store.

What were you doing before you launched your business/project?

I was the Senior Fashion Editor at Sunday Magazine – a News Ltd published based magazine that had a weekly reach of 3.3million people.Pop over and read Carlie’s story published via Creative Consulting – the full interview here.

SHONA MCROBERT | WHISKY DISTILLER

This interview was published as a collaboration by the team at Creative Consulting and Graziher is proud to support their month-long series of #ruralregional women.

What inspires you?

Creative people, nature, music, art, literature

How did your project/business idea come about?

After years working in the wine industry I trained as a Whisky/Gin Distiller at Lark Distillery in Hobart. I made a couple of barrels there as a pleasure project and began to realise there was potential to do more and experiment. 

What stage is your project/business in?

I am in production mode, producing spirit to go into barrels for maturation.

What were you doing before you launched your business/project?

Due to the time whisky takes to mature my business will not be launched for another few years. I continue to enjoy distilling Gin with my dear friend Natalie Fryar for the Abel Gin Company and whisky with the Chris`s at Launceston Distillery.

Pop over and read Shona’s story published via Creative Consulting – the full interview here.

FLEUR ANDERSON | RURAL BUSINESS COLLECTIVE

This interview was published as a collaboration by the team at Creative Consulting and Graziher is proud to support their month-long series of #ruralregional women.

“COMMUNITY INSPIRES ME. THE POWER OF WHAT A COMMUNITY CAN DO WHEN GALVANISED BEHIND A CAUSE IS PRETTY POWERFUL.”

What inspires you?

Community inspires me. The power of what a community can do when galvanised behind a cause is pretty powerful. Also true examples of leadership – the type that is working towards something that might not even be realised in their lifetime.

How did your project/business idea come about?

It was an idea inspired by this feeling that no one was speaking to me. I was looking for ideas to innovate agricultural businesses and I was either reading technical industry material or listening to city-based start-up and business advice. I know that to be a leading agribusiness in 10 years time we have to think differently about how business in rural areas work and there were very few places I could get that support.

What stage is your project/business in?

I swung open the doors just over 12 months ago after putting my idea to the ING Dreamstarter Competition and completing a successful crowdfunding round.

What were you doing before you launched your business/project?

I was the Qld Manager at Philanthropy Australia and working on this idea and our farm in the spare hours.Pop over and read Fleur’s story published via Creative Consulting – the full interview here.

SALLY CUDMORE| AGRI ALLIANCE

This interview was published as a collaboration by the team at Creative Consulting and Graziher is proud to support their month-long series of #ruralregional women.

How did your project/business idea come about?

I had been looking to move on from my previous role, which had me on the road and away from home a little too much. Jo and I had been talking a lot about opportunities in the Industry, and I had gone for some great positions in the City, only to be told that I was the perfect candidate for the job but I would have to relocate to the City. On one such interview, I was talking with the CEO of a company, who suggested if I were to ever look at going out on my own then they would definitely be interested in contracting projects to me on a regular basis. Jo and I having previously discussed where we thought we saw an opening in the Industry – Jo having experience in Sponsorship and my experience and relationships in the Industry – we formed Agri Alliance, a company that specialises in sponsorship, events and project management solely dedicated to the Agriculture Industry. The banner allows us to focus on our core role as a sponsorship and event management company, but also allowed me to focus on project based work in the Industry where required.

What stage is your project/business in?

We hit our 1 year milestone in September, which was a pretty exciting achievement, we are definitely still in the growth phase. Hitting this milestone though provided a good opportunity to reflect on what we had achieved over the last 12 months, what worked, what hadn’t worked, and look forward to where we wanted to take the business over the next few years.

We plan to celebrate with our first Christmas Party towards the end of this year – we think we deserve it!

What were you doing before you launched your business/project?

I was working for a global livestock nutrition company. I spent a lot of time travelling and away from home visiting farms, feedlots, studs etc. discussing different methods of feeding cattle and sheep, looking at diet reformulations and additives to boost production, health and fertility goals. It was an amazing job, and I learnt a bucket load about the Industry both here in Australia, and overseas with some great opportunities to travel around the US and Europe.

When was the moment you thought, I might be onto something here?

Jo and I in the early stages sort a mentor who had been heavily involved in the Industry for years, who had taken a step back from her business recently, the response we received from her was phenomenal, when we floated our concept and it was really uplifting for us both to hear such great feedback from a lady who had been so successful and so well respected in the Industry. We then tested the waters attending our first Industry conference as Agri Alliance at BeefEx on the Gold Coast in 2016, conversations that we had over these few days, and relationships that we built formed I think really got us both excited by what we were trying to achieve with Agri Alliance.Pop over and read Sally’s story published via Creative Consulting – the full interview here.