Life on the Land

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. Follow...

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...

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...

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...

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 prop...

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...

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...

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 ma...

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...

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 lapp...

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...

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 redefini...

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...

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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 sustaina...

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...

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...

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 Ag...

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....

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 a...

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 str...

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 though...