Erin Mackley left the city for an adventure on a remote cattle station where she met her future husband. They eventually moved to rural Victoria and were excited to start a family. But at just 31 years of age, Erin was diagnosed with breast cancer, and just when she thought she beat it, two years later it has spread to her spine. Not only was Erin in the fight of her life, but she was also desperately trying to preserve her fertility. Until now, Erin has never shared her story publicly, and w...

209: Why Erin Mackley adopted three children

Hosted by Stephanie Trethewey. Motherland shares real, raw, and unbelievable stories of motherhood told by women on the land. Each week, a rural mum from somewhere in Australia shares her motherhood journey. You'll hear stories of true grit, resilience, grief, and pure joy. Motherhood is the most life changing and transformative journey a woman can go through, and it's not always easy. No matter where you live or what you do, we're in this together and you're not alone.

Kids & Family

Parenting

Tara Parchert lives in the Lockyer Valley in Queensland, and runs a vegetable operation with her husband. She's busy raising two little girls, but has given  birth to four. Tara fell pregnant with identical twin girls. After some pregnancy complications, she delivered them at just 26 weeks.  Everything seemed to be going okay until 5 weeks later, when one twin got an infection... she didn't make it. Tara and her husband Had to grieve one child, while support the other one who was st...

222: The unimaginable pain Tara Parchert has been through... twice.

Rebecca Gilchrist is a clinical psychologist who has a passion for supporting rural women; and she's pretty well placed to do that give she's also a rural mum and a farmer based on a 6th generation sheep and cattle station. Bec had her first baby on a plane; yep, on a plane, mid air when she was just 33 weeks pregnant. It was a very traumatic experience for her, although at the time, no one else knew that. In our chat, you'll hear about how her professional training has helped her, particular...

221: Clinical psychologist Rebecca Gilchrist gave birth on a plane

Ella Palmer is a nurse, and a mum of three who lives on a cropping and sheep farm in South Australia. Her motherhood journey has been heavily impacted by what happened to her when she was just 10 years old. After weeks of ongoing sickness and a misdiagnosis, Ella was in the fight of her life after her dad checked on her in the middle of the night to find her nearly unconscious. Unbeknownst to everyone, her appendix had ruptured three days earlier. Little Ella was in the fight of her life, wit...

220: How a burst appendix nearly cost Ella Palmer her fertility

Raechel Whitchurch writes songs about things that matter. Her childhood was spent performing in her family band and instilled a connection to rural Australia. She spent most of her early years living in a caravan while travelling and performing, before establishing herself as one of Australia's most promising new country artists. Her debut album ‘Finally Clear’ debuted at #1 on ARIA Australian Country Charts, and her highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘what a time to be alive’ will be releas...

219: Why country music artist Raechel Whitchurch wrote a song about her miscarriage

*A quick heads up, this episode contains some coarse language, and also discusses mental health and suicidal thoughts. If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline immediately on 13 11 14. Sophie Love  runs a small farm near Port Macquarie in New South Wales. She bought it herself aged 40, while single, and childless. She never thought she wanted kids, until, well, she did... after meeting a man she went on to marry. Soph has always dreamed of running her own property, and agai...

209: Why Erin Mackley adopted three children

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