Beyond the Farm Gate

Original publish date: Tue 06 Jul 2021.

Shanna Whan is the CEO of Sober in the Country, a national advocacy program for social change in the bush.

In this episode, Shanna shares her (very) personal journey, from growing up in her local rural scene to her battle with alcohol — which led her to start 'Sober in the Country'. She’s determined to spread the message that ‘It’s ok to say no to a beer’ throughout Australia’s rural communities.

Shanna has worked as a rural journalist, a jillaroo, and a photographer, which gives her a unique perspective on Australian agricultural communities.

Mental health support:

If you need mental health support, please visit your local hospital emergency department or contact the following support services:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• ​Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• MensLine: 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Resources and links:

• Sober in the Country
• SITC Bush Tribe

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original publish date: Tue 16 Mar 2021.

James Walker is a fifth-generation farmer from Longreach in Queensland. In between farming James is an accomplished entrepreneur with a focus on improving profitability in the livestock industry.

In this episode, you'll hear how innovation has future-proofed James' family farm, how he's diversified his income stream through AgriTourism and AgTech, and how he's creating farming efficiencies that are bringing positive change to the Northern cattle industry and beyond.

Resources and links:

• View more information about the Bose sunglasses here: https://www.farmertec.io/

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original publish date: Tue 16 Feb 2021.

Agriculture, why wouldn't you want to be a part of it? So says today's guest, Tom Murphy of Kulin in Western Australia. As you listen to Tom speak, it’s easy to tell that he truly loves farming. And his passion for farming runs deep. It's a passion that's led him on a journey across the Nullarbor and back, working for some of the biggest names in Australian agriculture.

In this episode, you'll hear Tom speak about his unwavering commitment to community, how saying yes to opportunities has taken him on the ultimate ag-adventure, and how his experience with succession has enabled him to embrace farming without a farm.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Nicolson runs Croftdown, a property in Bathurst, where she runs miniature donkeys, highland cows, and Angus beef cattle; with a particular passion for her donkeys. Kate grew up in a traditional farming background, surrounded by sheep, horses, and cattle, which she left to pursue a career in bushfire science, before ultimately being pulled back to rural life.

In today's episode, Kate details her passion for donkeys and other unusual animals, and how she's found a way of supporting her local community by running tailored therapy programs with the donkeys for the disabled and elderly. Kate explains how her work helps to provide a support service for those in need, and the humble donkey is helping to bring positivity and uniqueness to the ag industry.

Resources and links:

• Croftdown on Instagram

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Rachel Carey is a Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, with expertise in all things food systems. Whilst working as a cook on a remote cattle station in Queensland, UK-local Rachel realised how good the food culture was, and how it was tied directly to how much food was grown near the city. As a result, she's since conducted research on the governance of sustainable food systems, and now leads the Foodprint Melbourne Project, which aims to improve the resilience of Melbourne's food system.

In today's episode, we hear all about the importance of Melbourne's food-bowl, and what we can do to build a more resilient food system. Plus, some amazing examples of what other countries around the world are doing, and what we can learn from them.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Kuchel is the Regional Manager of Agribusiness with Rural Bank for both the Wimmera and Mallee regions. Greg also sits on the board of the Birchip Cropping Group — a key industry body for growers in the region. Despite growing up in South Australia, Greg has become well and truly entrenched in Victoria's Wimmera farming community, and he's passionate about not only farming but also supporting young talent emerging in the industry. 

In today's episode, Greg shares his connection to agriculture, and how he ended up in the Wimmera region. He also talks about his involvement with the Birchip Cropping Group, and discusses the performance of Wimmera farmland prices. Plus, you'll hear how Greg's journey with Rural Bank has come full circle, from starting as a graduate to now mentoring the next generation.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate McBride is a fifth-generation farmer from New South Wales and the youngest member to sit on the Western Local Land Services board. Kate uses her agriculture experience to advocate for drought and water management and the importance of understanding the role that climate change plays in these areas. Her advocacy work has led her to become an Anne Kantor Fellow at the Australia Institute, where she can research the connections between water, the climate, and other rural issues.

In today's episode, we hear about Kate's connection to agriculture and how her experience growing up by the Darling-Barka river led her to become the advocate she is today for drought and water management. She also talks about the importance of strengthening services and infrastructure in rural communities and how bridging the gap between city and country can encourage continued connection and resilience.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Velisha is a third-generation farmer with a passion for business and creating opportunities. Her first-hand experience on the farm shapes her newest venture, the Velisha Education Group (VEG), as she works to promote pathways into horticulture, and safety on the farm.

In this episode, Catherine shares the story of how her family started in horticulture, and how the farm ended up in her capable hands. Plus, an insight into the entrepreneurial side of the vegetable industry, and how that mindset alongside a positive run-in with WorkSafe, led her to start VEG.

Resources and links:

• VEG Education website
• Velisha Farms website

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirsten Diprose is a communications specialist and content creator. Along with her husband and two boys, Kirsten lives on a mixed grazing and cropping farm in southwest Victoria, where their latest adventure is incorporating dairy into their farming business.

In this episode, Kirsten shares how her experience in farming, combined with her expertise in broadcasting, resulted in co-founding the Ducks on the Pond podcast alongside Jackie Elliot. She also shares how her passion for telling the stories of rural people began, and why the ag industry needs to do a better job of showcasing its diversity.

Resources and links:

• Ducks on the Pond podcast

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original publish date: 30 Mar 2021.

Neil Seaman is a fifth-generation wool grower on his family's 2,000-acre property, Rosemont, located near Crookwell in NSW. Alongside his father, Neil runs 4,000 Merino ewes, producing fine micron wool.

In this episode, you'll hear how proud and optimistic Neil is about the future of Australia's wool industry, why he believes rural Australia is the place to live, and how his time on the reality TV show, Farmer Wants a Wife, has given him a platform to help close the gap between city and country.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.