There can be some impressive distances covered in boardingschool drop offs across Australia, but surely Julia Creek to Switzerland takes the cake? Belinda and Wayne Murphy are preparing to send their incredibly talented daughter Maddie overseas to dance on the world stage.

Hailing from the small outback town of Julia Creek in northwest Queensland, Belinda has long been an integral part of the Julia Creek community and the wider region serving as mayor of the Shire of McKinley for eight years. Alongside her husband, Wayne, and their two children, Liam and Maddie, the family owns and operates a cattle trucking business, as well as the local Julia Creek hardware store. In this delightful conversation with Sammie O’Brien Belinda talks about her passion for her community, the sacrifices worth making to see her children thrive and the financial realities of stepping outside the traditional school system to allow her children to follow their dreams.