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Merredin Solar Farm
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The farmer’s family settled in this region over 100 years ago and where we, this generation have conducted our lives. We have produced legumes, pulses, grain, meat, and wool. More recently, there has been a change in land use in that is has become home to WA’s largest solar farm. At the time of…
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The educational journey of a country woman
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How does a woman who moves to a farm in a little country town, end up with a doctorate? I share this story to encourage all women to consider further study. In the beginning In the ’80s, I attended two different universities. I was kicked out of the first one and I didn’t complete…
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Easter Sunday
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I don’t recall too much fuss being made of Easter as I was growing up. The memory of going to Mass on Easter Sunday morning is rather vivid. Being involved in a house fire on Easter Saturday night, when I was seven years old, might be one reason why I can’t get overly excited…
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Knowing when to leave the farm
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I keep referring to leaving the farm, but I am still here. Having spent more time here than anywhere else in my life the time will come when I leave. Each new day presents fresh opportunities and I have calculated that there is another half of my life yet to live. What has been,…
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Selling the sheep
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Wool and meat have traditionally complemented grain production and farm income. Over the last few decades, farmers have been gradually decreasing sheep numbers. We have retained them to ensure an income, eat the stubble from the previous year’s harvest, and reduce the need for extensive and expensive chemical spraying. In the last few years,…
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Women, work, and financial independence
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If I fully resign after this period of long service, I will lose my financial freedom. I have worked hard to get to where I am, but more than anything, I fear not having a fortnightly pay. Am I doing a disservice to women, everywhere?
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7 tips for leaving your happy place
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Within the COVID-19 lockdown period, we moved house. Getting through the regional border (from the country to the city) was another story, despite my plea to the authorities that it was ‘essential’ travel. Another tenant was moving into the rental we were vacating and couldn’t while we were still there. One of life’s great…
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Birthday rain and season break
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I promised the farmer I would bring rain on my birthday. We have been desperately waiting for some to fall so that we can be assured of some moisture to germinate the seed. We are planting wheat and barley. It has been raining all morning, signaling the start of the agricultural seeding season. The…
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How to exercise and read at the same time
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Reading brings me the greatest pleasure. Having never been an avid reader, I find life is pure joy when there is a book waiting for me to finish. Recently, and in the name of efficiency and time management, I have figured that I can read and exercise (or listen and exercise) at the same…
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Retirement goals
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I am not quite sure if people set retirement goals, but considering how I will live my life for the next 30 years makes me think I might need to. Certainly not the first of my goals, but on recommendation from a doctor (to slow down my highly active and anxious mind) I enrolled…