Monday 24th March 2025 -Over the past week, communities across South West Queensland have been dealt a devastating blow. Places like Stonehenge, Windorah, Adavale, Quilpie, Eromanga, Jundah and across the Channel Country have been swallowed by floodwaters. Homes inundated. Yards washed out. Millions of hectares under water.

If you’ve had your head in the sand, now is the time to tune in. What’s happening out here is unfathomable. And behind every flood warning is a family. A farm. A future now uncertain.

I’m incredibly grateful to be joined today by two women who are living through this — Louise Hoch,Wendy Sheehan and Charmain Batt. They bring us a raw and real recap of what’s unfolding on the ground, and how they’re coping with the emotional and physical toll of this natural disaster. As the flood water start to go down it will be only then we will be able to assess the damage.

@on.the.fenceline

@dandlhoch

@bulldust_and_mulga

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

Fee May, a woman whose journey has taken her from the paddocks of rural Australia to the world of photography, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Fee has worn many hats—farmer, agritourism leader, business owner, and now a creative force behind rural and regional marketing.

We dive into her remarkable career shifts, from running a pastured pork farm and agritourism venture in Toowoomba to launching the successful Toowoomba Farmers' Market, and ultimately, finding a new purpose through photography, social media management and business mentoring. Fee opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the realities of single parenting, overcoming self-doubt, and the mental resilience needed to rebuild after major life changes.

She shares how her love for authentic storytelling has helped rural businesses connect with their communities and why she’s now turning her focus to country wedding photography, creative workshops and supporting small business owners in finding balance.

If you're someone who’s been through big life pivots, wondering how to turn your passions into a sustainable career, or simply love an inspiring story of resilience, reinvention, and rural life, this is an episode for you.

What We Cover:

- Fee’s unexpected journey from finance to farming to photography
- The realities of running an agritourism business & building trust with consumers
- Why she left farming and how she found a new passion in storytelling and photography
- The challenges of solo parenting & rebuilding after divorce
- How mental health struggles, burnout & self-doubt shaped her approach to life & business
- The power of authenticity in branding & storytelling for rural businesses
- Fee’s new focus on country wedding photography, workshops & creative business mentoring

Follow Fee May on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:
Instagram:

@hamlet_and_fields

@fionamayimagery

@sarablakely

@jennakutcher

@mirandalambert

@georgiestevenson

@lisamessenger + @collectivehub

@manonmatthews

@holly_goodman

@whitneyspicer

@gingingardenclub

🎙️ Recommended Podcasts:

• The Imperfects
• Motherland Australia
• Jumbled
• She's on the Money
• Grow Your Photography Business Podcast

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

Shannon Speight, a vet-turned-entrepreneur who has made waves in the beef industry. From growing up in a family that moved around for mining work to working as a jillaroo in the NT, Shannon’s journey into agriculture wasn’t a straight path—but it’s been a remarkable one.

Shannon shares how her experiences as a vet in Charters Towers and Longreach shaped her understanding of the beef supply chain and ultimately led her to co-found Black Box, a game-changing data analytics company for livestock producers. We also talk about her journey into farm ownership, what it’s really like balancing a thriving career with raising three young boys, and how burnout in 2023 forced her to reassess her approach to work and life.

We discuss:
The lessons learned from starting Black Box and what it’s changing for cattle producers
The realities of living remotely, from childcare challenges to health access
The mental load of juggling motherhood and business in ag
The biggest opportunities and roadblocks in the beef industry today
What more women in ag need to hear about building a career while raising a family

This conversation is full of insights, honesty, and lessons learned from the land—a must-listen for anyone in agriculture, business, or rural life.

Follow Shannon on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:
Instagram:

@shannon.speight

Website: Black Box Co

LinkedIn: Shannon Speight

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

Kimmie Cameron, a rural mother, grazier, and The Rural Dietitian. Kimmie’s journey is one of resilience, love, and finding purpose through both heartbreak and opportunity.

Growing up in Western Queensland, Kimmie’s career took her into the world of nutrition and dietetics, where she built a name for herself in regional health. But after moving to New England, NSW, and marrying her husband Sando, her life took on new challenges—juggling motherhood, rural life, and eventually, navigating immense personal loss.

In 2022, Kimmie and Sando lost their daughter Pippa to stillbirth at 36+4 weeks, an event that deeply shaped their family’s story. Through grief, growth, and courage, Kimmie has used her experience to help rural women through The Rural Dietitian, providing accessible nutrition support for mums juggling farm life, family, and their own well-being.

In this episode, we dive into:
The transition from a thriving career in dietetics to life on the land
The realities of rural motherhood and the grief of losing a child
How Kimmie and her husband navigated loss while keeping their family strong
The courage to start over and build The Rural Dietitian
How rural women can prioritise their health without the overwhelm

Finding balance in farm life, business, and family

This episode is raw, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring. Kimmie’s story is a reminder of the strength found in rural women, the importance of open conversations around loss and resilience, and why supporting one another is more crucial than ever.

Follow Kimmie on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:
Instagram:

@theruraldietitian

@los-kitchen

@doctimcrowe

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

Stephanie Trethewey, the powerhouse behind Motherland, a national movement dedicated to supporting rural mothers across Australia. Named the 2024 Australian of the Year for Tasmania, Stephanie has transformed her own struggles with isolation and postnatal depression into a platform that connects and empowers rural women.

A former television journalist, Stephanie made the leap from city life to rural Tasmania in 2019, an experience that was both beautiful and deeply challenging. Through her journey, she recognised the critical need for more support for rural mothers, leading to the creation of Motherland Village, Australia’s first online rural mothers’ group, and Motherland Connect, a digital hub linking women to vital services.

Her Motherland podcast has been downloaded over one million times, and her work has not only raised awareness of the realities of rural motherhood but also provided practical solutions for women facing isolation.

In this episode, we talk about:

🎙️ Stephanie’s personal journey from city journalist to rural advocate
🎙️ The emotional and mental health challenges of motherhood in rural Australia
🎙️ Why she founded Motherland and the impact it’s having on rural women
🎙️ The importance of community and connection for mothers on the land
🎙️ How rural mums can access support through Motherland Village & Motherland Connect

Whats next for Steph?

This is an inspiring and deeply personal conversation that highlights the resilience of rural mothers and the incredible power of connection.

📢 Know a rural mum who needs support? Check out Motherland Village & Motherland Connect at [Motherland Website]

Follow Stephanie on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:
Instagram: @motherlandaustralia
Podcast: Motherland Podcast

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

When it comes to work shirts, we all value quality and durability—especially in the agricultural industry, where spending long days under the hot sun or in the chill of cooler months is just part of the job.

Enter Maddie Beatty, who, along with three others, started playing around with the idea of creating a work shirt brand that would capture their adventures from the sea to the stations.

From this idea, Hide to Tide was born. Nearly four years later, Maddie has taken over the reins entirely, with a mission to produce Australia's highest quality, most trusted work shirts. In 2023, Hide to Tide was recognised as the Most Innovative Work Shirt Brand of the year.

Though Maddie isn't originally from the country, she has embraced everything rural life offers, from the opportunities to the lifestyle. She marry her forever, Ben, a helicopter pilot, and is just beginning an exciting chapter in her life. Maddie is a kind, creative, and driven young woman making her mark in the agricultural sector—definitely one to watch!

Maddie is also passionate about bridging the gap between urban and rural communities, helping those in metropolitan areas understand the realities of working in agriculture and why it matters so much.

Hide to Tide shirts are known for their excellent quality, with perfect sleeve lengths and a fabulous range of colours. The brand is also expanding into a children's range, so make sure to check it out!

Find out more at www.hidetotide.com.au

Follow Maddie on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@hidetotide

Enjoyed the episode? Producing these podcast are a blast and take time - I would love it if you could show me some love and support, you can do so by Buying me a coffee

Please make sure you leave a review or rate this episode.

@married_tothe_land

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

For many years now, New Zealand-born Fiona Baird has been bringing fun, fashion, and an incredible work ethic to her role as a stockwoman on live export shipments from Australia throughout Southeast Asia. Her story stands out because, despite the grit and grime of working with animals all day, she maintains her high style standards with well-done hair and bold red lipstick and a touch of chanel perfume. However, Fiona’s journey wasn’t always centered on live exports. She has lived a vibrant life, with many twists and turns since her childhood on a farm in the South Island of New Zealand, from a makeup artist in Melbourne to closing her eyes and pointing to a place on the Australian map landing her a job as a barmaid in Camowheel in QLD. In this episode we will also touch on greif, for Fiona it was loosing her father and we talk at length about the impact of what that has had.

Follow Fiona on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@appletreeflat_nz
@farmherhands
@livestockcollective
@ntlivesexporters

Enjoyed the episode- producing these podcast are a blast and take time i would love it if you could show me some love and support, you can do so by -Buy me a coffee

Please make sure you leave a review or rate this episode.

@married_tothe_land

FarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au