It was lockdown and lockout. The WA government had told me I couldn’t visit my parents in South Australia because the borders were remaining shut for the foreseeable future. I would normally head to their place in the Flinders Ranges for a break. (Mum at nearly 77 still cooks the best schnitzel and makes the…
Never be afraid to be the only woman in the room. A hard take in Australian Agriculture but today, on the International Day of Rural Women, I’m reminded of how far women in agriculture have come, and how much things have changed for women who want to work on the land. Like just about every…
April will see the release of the second Detective Dave Burrows book WITHOUT A DOUBT. To celebrate, in May, I’m hitting the road with my ute and maybe my dog and coming to a town near you. If you are in WA, and you’d like me to visit, then please contact Isabelle O’Brien at Allen…
Success isn’t accident. A dream doesn’t become reality through just clicking your fingers. It takes sweat, determination and hard work. There aren’t secrets to success, just as there aren’t any get-quick-rich schemes. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure and persistence. Maureen Dobra is all of the above. I hope you…
Have you ever read the book The Secret Garden? I fell in love with that book, the mystery and wildness of the garden, the secrets within such a grand old house and of course the unexplained cries in the middle of the night. I always feel like I’m heading somewhere mysterious and wild when I head…
Introducing Sue Middleton. Sue and her husband Michael Brennan farm in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Their story is number 45 in my quest to feature 52 farming stories in 52 weeks to celebrate the Australian Year of the Farmer. Summary of our family and farming enterprise My Husband and his family have farmed…
Introducing Warren Pensini of Blackwood Valley Beef from Boyup Brook in Western Australia. Warren’s story is number 33 of 52, in my celebration of The Australian Year of the Farmer. Summary of your family and farming enterprise Blackwood Valley Beef is located on 1640 acres in the gently undulating countryside of the Blackwood Valley in…
Introducing Mae Connelly from Pingrup in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Mae’s Story is number 26 in my Farmer Blogs series, celebrating the Australian Year of the Farmer. Summary of your family and farming enterprise My husband Rohan has been working on his family’s grain and sheep farm at Pingrup for the last 10 years. His…
Introducing Elizabeth Brennan. Elizabeth and her family farm on properties between Wongan Hills and Moora in the WA Wheatbelt. Elizabeth’s story is number 19 in our quest to feature 52 farming stories in 52 weeks. 1. Summary of your family and farming enterprise I remember thinking as a young tacker the only thing I would change about…
