Louise O’Neill is a British-born holistic health professional and farmer. She met husband Warren as a backpacker, and now with their two sons, they’ve embarked on a gutsy, vivid and transformative journey.

The O’Neills were farmers in the wheatbelt of Western Australia, but reached a point where the tribulations and toxicity of that life were literally hitting them in the face. When a tractor breakdown prompted personal breakdown, they picked up and moved south, took courses in regenerative agriculture, and started to turn their new farm’s fortunes around. And out of all this, Louise began to expand her passion and enterprise for helping to improve the health of regional families across the country.

When we returned south from the Kimberley late last year, we had earmarked some time south in the new year with Tanya Massy and her partner Kris, near Denmark in Western Australia (that story features in the previous episode). With Tanya just setting up her place, Louise and Warren reached out to welcome us to their home. And as we got to know each other a little, I was struck again by the gutsy transformations being negotiated in people’s lives everywhere.

This was another brilliant and moving story of regeneration. And again, with an invitation to others to explore the abundant opportunities with them.

Update: Soon after this was recorded, Louise was named a finalist in the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. A week later, she was declared the winner. She now goes into the mix for the national award.

This conversation was recorded in the dappled shade by the creek at Mt Romance farm on 28 January 2022.

Title slide: the entrance to Mt Romance farm (pic: Olivia Cheng).

You can see a few photos from Mt Romance on the episode web page too.

Music:
Regeneration, composed by Amelia Barden, from the soundtrack of the new film Regenerating Australia, screening around the country now.

Find more:
Farm Life Fitness.

Visit Mt Romance farm (their farm-stay business).

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