Where to begin?

Gosh it’s been quite the ride, the past couple of months.  I hardly know where to begin… from the start of August til now has been SO super hectic I have barely been able to pack, unpack, wash, repack and work out where I am headed next.

Here is how it went down:

BIRRR TRIP TO CANBERRA – as one of the long-term admins for the Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia group, I flew (Rocky-Brisbane-Canberra) and joined the team to meet with stakeholders (nbn & Telstra) and lobby the Government and Opposition.  We asked that they all STEP UP and take on the trouble-shooting role that our admin team faces on a daily basis, and create teams to deal with issues specific to RRR Australia.

It was nice to see some coverage of our visit via the Rural Weekly  and the Qld Country Life (farmonline). 

Those we met with made all the right noises, so we can only wait to see if long-term outcomes match up!

THE GREEN HEART

En-route to Canberra, I had stopped in for a few hours at Brisbane – dashing into the city for a quick meeting. I have had a little idea percolating in my head (in the aftermath of the Vegetation Management debates in our home state) and wanted to see if it was possible to organize during the Brisbane Exhibition (or the Ekka as it is fondly known).  As you may know, I am big on trying to bridge that city-country divide – the lack of real understanding (both ways) concerns me.  During a brainstorming session (a few weeks earlier) with some incredible ag-vocates, I had voiced an idea to create a simple, positive image.  A green heart. Of farmers. At the Ekka (our state’s biggest agricultural showcase).

Somehow it actually came together! So the week after my Canberra trip, I was BACK in Brisbane (1500km round trip in the car this time).  And with the help of some amazing friends, and assistance on the ground from the team at Agforce… we managed THIS:

I was stoked at how it came up (and hope maybe to recreate it with a drone at some stage down the track?).  The best bit? When everyone lifted their hats up in unison it looked like a beating green heart!

Cool hey?  Nice to see it shared around heaps on the day (from my own Facebook page here and from Agforce’s Facebook page here), and making the front of the Rural Weekly too!

CATTLEMEN IN PEARLS

WHILE I was still in Brisbane, I attended the launch of THIS book:

Earlier this year, I was asked to contribute to a book which would compile a series of mini-biographies on women in the Australian beef cattle industry.  It was a unique and exciting idea – I limited my input to three women (some contributors did many more!) but it still soaked up many hours of research, travel, writing and photo editing.  It was nice to dust off those old photojournalist skills again…

In total there are 28 women represented in the book, launched by the fabulous Pip Courtney (ABC Landline presenter) at the Ekka High Tea.  Lots of fun!

I promise to do a post soon on the experience of writing for this book – such a brilliant chance to peek inside the worlds of some amazing women!

SISTERS’ ROAD TRIP

THEN my amazing sister (aka Jeanie in Paradise for those who have been following blogs for a while) accompanied me to the P!NK concert (again in Brisbane – this time a 1500km round trip).  It was SO damned fabulous, and just a great chance to spend some one-on-one time with each other.  P!nk, of course, blew our socks off…

I recommend road-trippin’ with your sister – something we really don’t make time for often enough – seriously we DIDN’T stop talking!

THEN it was…

MUM’S 80th BIRTHDAY

Then we headed north to gather and celebrate my amazing Mum’s milestone birthday – 80 years under her belt!

How good does she look?  And what about that CAKE (hand made by my sister-in-law ‘Curly’)?

Such a lovely gathering of children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

We even got Mum’s best friend up from Sydney.  Still as gorgeous as ever!We were only missing Mum’s sister, who had broken her hip recently.

THE BULL SALE

THEN, of course, we had our on-property bull sale (which I was working furiously on in between all the other events).

Click the link or pic for more photos of THAT mega-event…

And that was before the…

DOUBLE DAN HORSE CLINIC

Photos and blog post yet to come…

And let’s not forget, the…

2018 QRRRWN CONFERENCE

Held in Kingaroy this year (blessedly only three hour drive away) at which I refilled my proverbial cup!

Part of a panel on a QRRRWN leadership discussion

It was a busy three days there – packing in as much inspiration and information as possible.  I wish everyone had access to this kind of gathering.  I recall my very first QRRRWN conference in Blackall back in 2013 …  Such a lot has happened in that time!  Such great friendships cultivated each time it takes place…

I was even interviewed for a podcast with Heather (a bush blogger/podcaster) from Bindis ‘n’ Bulldust. You can check that interview out here.

So anyway… that was my past six weeks…

What have YOU been up to??  Has your cup been refilled lately??