#SheCan The Traveller
#SheCan proudly sponsored by the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award
“Gosh, where do I start…It’s been one wild adventure since we last spoke. But one that did not come without tears of emotion and confusion amongst the breeze of freedom and fresh eyes.
I packed up my Troopy with my best belongings, one being my red dog, Dargo. To then say goodbye to my other ‘belongings’ – the land.
I was sent on my way with the support and love of my friends and family. For what was meant to be seen as a wonderful new chapter.
But what seemed like an amazing opportunity of new freedom instead started off with me crying my way across the Nullarbor, as I grieved the place I loved.
I felt lost with the lack of direction amongst my emotions as I crossed the ever changing scenes from Victoria, South Australia and into the wild beauty of the West. I found myself amongst the most secluded beaches, skinny dipping. Laughing with strangers and scenery only best described by the naked eye itself. I dipped and flowed between grief and freedom. It was a process I knew I had to endure and overcome.
It wasn’t until I took up a station job at Legune on the WA/NT border that I really found my wings. Immersed in the wild untamed outback I finally felt at home again. Disconnected from the distractions of technology. I was reconnected with myself.
Inches thick in bulldust and Territory sweat. I worked and laughed alongside my newfound workmates and friends with a spring in my step and a beaming smile on my face. Work was hard and life was good.
This was my turning point.
It was from then on I immersed myself in the freedom and new chapter I was blessed to be experiencing. I leant into the unknown with a new found fire in my belly. I leant into me, happy with who I was and even though it was somewhat of a gypsy lifestyle at that stage, I was entirely content and happy with where I was. With my Troopy, Dargo and the outback.
I then went onto Darwin for a little social visit to see one of my best mates… little did I know I was about to meet the man of my dreams (call me corny, but its true and in fact he’s better than anything I could have dreamed…yep, I’m head over boots for the bloke!)
I was scheduled to leave Darwin on Friday, but figured I’d stay an extra night to have a beer with the great Oli Le Lievre and his traveling companion…Munro Hardy. (The rest is history…yep, your girl’s in love.)
I left Darwin to take up a dream job I had lined up. I was headed for the Pilbara sands of Bullara Station, WA…I talk of Bullara as if it was a dream.
I was working alongside the most wonderful couple, who for only knowing one another for the shortest time, quickly became lifelong friends and great inspirations to my life - Paul and Fiona, who own and run Jesters Flat in Margaret River, WA Travelled up to Bullara to run a months trail riding out of the station, for the campers and people passing through.
If you’ve not been to Bullara please do yourself a favour and put it on your life list.
Tim and Edwina who own and run Bullara are the most down to earth, loving and welcoming couple I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. My encounters with both these couples still inspire me today.
Days at Bullara were spent in the saddle, sipping cups of tea, while nights were spent around the fire with a bottle of wine, talking about all things life. Mornings were greeted by the all consuming sunrises of pinks and purples, reds and yellows, draped by the morning's blue sky alighting.
Coffees, scones with jam and cream, burger nights at the station and the surroundings of pindan and horseshoes…I think this was my dream. But there was another dream boat on the other end of my phone who made the decision to finish my time with Paul and Fiona and head back to the Territory one of ease, excitement and complete uncertainty…But he seemed like a good thing to me. So off we went back to the Territory, Pindrop – Carbeen Park, Munro Hardy (are you getting whiplash yet?).
There is a whole other chapter for this but it’s a complete story in itself and let me tell you. It's nothing short of magical.
I feel like once I walked through my grief, I cried my tears and leant into my new life.
It's been something of a Disney movie. Maybe that seems laughable. But I’m 32 now, I’ve felt Heartbreak. Loss. Death. Pain. Doubt…I’ve seen hard times. But I know there is always still magic in this world if you keep your eyes and heart open. 2022 was a testament of that for me.
Q and A:
What have you learnt?
I’ve learnt a boat load, but I think the guts of it is that - Letting go of your burdens, creates space for new growth, new knowledge and new love.
What are some of the best things you’ve gained from this experience?
Munro Hardy – hahaha (yep, call me whipped)
I’ve also gained fresh eyes, new dreams and ambitions. I’ve gained a fire for myself back.
You had to say goodbye to both your dream lifestyle and the land you grew up on, which do you think was harder and why?
“For me, saying goodbye to the land was the hardest. It's in our DNA to be connected to the land and that is a connection I feel very deeply. A dream can be recreated, redirected along with a lifestyle. But the land…the land is personal.”
Is there still a feeling of loss or have you come to terms with it?
“I’ve definitely come to terms with it. I think revisiting the emotions and process of that loss will always hold emotion for me. But now I see new opportunities and stepping stones to get me to where I want to be. My dream to hold that land again in my own name will be my biggest life goal. One that I’m working towards with fresh eyes and a healthy aspiration.”
What advice would you give to others who are worried about figuring out life and making big choices?
“It’s hard, it’s not easy. It’s not rainbows and sunsets in the beginning. Hard decisions usually carry an amount of uncertainty.
I feel like one of our biggest flaws as humans is the restraint that uncertainty puts on us. But it is when we lean into the unknown that we unlock our greatest potential and growth. No one can do the hard yards for you. You have to back yourself in and back yourself through.
But I think in a nutshell the best advice I can give is the very fact that we only walk this earth once. So be sure to make it a healthy and colourful life. Be a good human. Make the hard decisions for the quality of your life and those you love. Anything is possible.”
Where do you think you’ll be in another 12 months?
“Haha…Great question.
Well for the foreseeable future I’ll be in Katherine running Carbeen Park alongside Munro. With a couple side projects of my own. One being a small lease block that I’ve taken on down south. I will run this back and forth from the Territory. A stepping stone towards some bigger projects.
But honestly who knows what the next 12 months will look like, I didn’t have a clue on the last 12 and they worked out pretty bloody fantastic. So for me it's just leaning into a healthy life from here on in.”
Our #SheCan Campaign is proudly sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, Rural Women’s Award.
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia's leading prize celebrating the courageous leadership and entrepreneurial drive of women involved in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities.
For over 20 years, the Award has garnered a significant and respected status among parliamentarians, industry, media and Award alumni. Each State and Territory Winner receives a $15,000 Westpac grant for their project, business or program, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.
AgriFutures Australia is committed to the future growth and advancement of the Rural Women’s Award as a means of identifying, celebrating and empowering women to make decisions that ensure our rural industries prosper now, and into the future.