294: Rachel Bjelke-Petersen on Following Her Gut & the Pothole That Changed Everything

Rachel Bjelke-Petersen spent her childhood weekends travelling Queensland’s campdraft circuit with her dad. While horses, cattle and red dirt were always part of her, life took her in many directions — but something was always missing.After spinal surgery in her mid-20s, her goal was simple: get back on a horse… and she did exactly that. In 2022, she packed up and drove 1,100 kilometres west, where she says she’d never felt more at home. Then one unexpected moment changed everything… hitting a pothole and meeting her future husband! Within months, Rachel had stepped into life on Christian’s fourth-generation family property, and into motherhood. Alongside her husband, she’s since built The Old Hangar,  a thriving rural venue in the South Burnett. Rachel’s story is about backing yourself, trusting your gut, and building a life you truly love. This is her story. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Discover beautifully crafted timeless furniture and homewares at provincial home living. From beautiful linen sofas and solid timber dining tables to classic cabinetry, lighting, and homewares. Every piece is designed to bring warmth, character, and effortless style into your home. Inspired by relaxed Australian living with a refined European influence, their collections are made to be lived in and loved for years to come. With 37 stores across Australia and a seamless online shopping experience, creating a home you truly adore has never been easier. Visit your nearest provincial home living store or shop online today and be inspired to transform every room. The link is in today's show notes. And when was the last time you had space to think about your goals? If you're a parent or carer wondering what's next, the Parent Pathways program is here to support you. It's a free voluntary program offering mentoring, financial assistance, and genuine personal support to help you achieve your goals, whatever that may look like. Whether it's building your parenting skills, studying for your dream job, getting your driver's licence, or simply finding your confidence again, Parent Pathways meets you where you're at. Eligible parents can access up to$1,250 per year. Search Training Alliance Group Parent Pathways. T's and C's apply. Details are in the show notes. Hi, I'm Stephanie Trifewe, the founder of Motherland, a national charity that supports rural mums across Australia. Welcome to the Motherland podcast, where each week I share with you real and raw stories of motherhood told by women on the land. I certainly didn't expect to be widowed twice by age 51. I was so scared when he was born. I felt so alone. And I remember sobbing to her, I just said, What have I done? It's a wild roller coaster we're all on. So no matter where you live or what you do, remember we're in this together and you're not alone. So what's it like to raise kids on the land? This is Motherland. Rachel Biocchi Peterson grew up between Montville and the Mary Valley, spending her weekends as a child travelling across Queensland on the campdraft circuit with her dad. While horses, cattle, and red dirt were always part of her, life took her in all sorts of directions, from airlines to retail, radio, and nannying. But no matter where she went, something was missing. After spinal surgery in her mid-20s, her goal was simple: get back on a horse. And she did exactly that. In 2022, Rachel packed up her car and drove 1,100 kilometers west, where, as she says, she's never felt more at home. And then one day, one unexpected moment, changed everything.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

I hit a massive pothole and completely shredded my tire. So here I am, and at the the day I think of the outfit I was wearing, and I had a white linen skirt on, and the next minute another bloke came past on a motorbike. Ah, here we go again. Here I am. And um, and then the third one that came along um was Christian.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

Within months, Rachel had stepped into life on Christian's fourth generation family property and into motherhood with their little boy JJ. Alongside her husband, she's created The Old Hangar, a thriving rural venue bringing people together in the South Burnett. This is a story about backing yourself, following that pull in your gut, and building a life you truly love. This is a story. Rachel, welcome to Motherland. Hi, Steph. Thank you. Thanks for having me. This has been stressful for everyone listening. It's taken us 25 minutes to get on this call due to internet problems, which is just so typical in rural areas. So sorry it was stressful for you, but you're on now, so hopefully this goes okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

Um so, Rach, introduce yourself to everyone. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you're based, your little family, what it is you do.

SPEAKER_00 4:27

Sure. So uh based here in the heart of the South Burnett, um, uh up on Peterson Drive, so about 10 minutes out of town. Um, we're on about a 900-acre um farm, uh Angus, mostly Angus herds. Uh so Christian, my husband, he's a fourth generation, um, which is a Bjorcke Peterson family here to live on Bethany. Uh and then our little fella who's a Joe Junior, JJ for short, uh, he's the fifth generation. So and how old's your little boy? So he's 11 months. Um, so we're we're nearly there the whole year round. Um, yeah, so 11 months old, um, spends his day out generally in the in the paddock with his dad, mustering cattle. Um, while I can get a bit of work done here and and get on top of life inside and they do their thing outside.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

So And so tell me a bit about like going back to your childhood. By the way, is it was it your friend Eva who nominated you? Uh so my cousin Eva. Your cousin.

SPEAKER_00 5:23

Yeah, she's my cousin, so she's one of my oh, there's there's about 25 of us cousins, so she's one of the many. Um yeah, yeah. So she was kind enough to to nominate me. I did.

SPEAKER_02 5:36

Well, I shout out to her because she she wrote um this beautiful half a novel about you to me and your backstory. So it actually was really lovely to hear a bit about your childhood in her email when she nominated you. But take us back to, I guess, where you grew up and what your life was like, because connection to the bush, cab drafting, horses, cattle, that's that's a part of you that's in your blood.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Yeah, it sure is. Um, and you know, I people ask, where are you from? And it's a really good question. Um, because I'm from everywhere. Um, so growing up very uh very normal household. Um, a mum and a dad, very loving family. I've got a um I have a big sister Emma. Um mum is born and bred a 60s kid on the Sunshine Coast in Cloundra. Um, and then dad is born and raised uh further out west. Um, so um, so yeah, they obviously crossed paths. And um while we always had connection to the Sunshine Coast and Cloundra, we um we we were generally on a bit a little bit of land, nothing too rural growing up. Um we we first started uh in the areas of Glenview, so just outside of the coast, and then we went up to the Montville Range, we had property there. Uh we um we spent most weekends, so while you know, Mum and M would go off to the coast uh for the weekend, Dad and I would um pull the horses out of the paddock and load the truck up and we'd head head west. Um so we'd go anywhere as far as um I guess your Proston areas, um anywhere south as your northern New South Wales areas, your cook you guys, your Lismores, um chasing the the um the camp draft circuit as they call it. Um yeah, and then we'd come back and um yeah, we'd we'd go to school on the on the coast and then the next weekend would come and off we'd go again and and mum and m would go to the coast. So we um we had the best of both lives, I like to say, um, with that that diversity. Um mum's obviously, as I just mentioned, a big family. So um, so yeah, full of love and a childhood with um with lots of family.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

What did you love about camp drafting and also did that create a special bond with your dad, like doing that as your thing, the two of you?

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Yeah, yeah, it sure did. Uh so we you we also had um dad's um dear old fellow granddad who he's now past, but he'd jump in the truck with us too, and the F250 with the goose neck and we'd claim in like sardines and off we go. But um, but yeah, it it definitely did create a bond um with dad, but I've got a lot to thank for mum and and her massive, big loving family too. Um so um, so yeah, but you know, even to today now, mum and dad have sold up on the coast and they live about two hills over out here in Kingaroy. So it's um it's nice to be reconnecting back with dad with horses and um obviously my hubby and and what dad and Christian do together and and that. So um yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

That's beautiful. And so take us through uh obviously camp drafting a big part of your childhood, but growing up into your teens, what what was your plan after school? What did you want to do and what did you do after that?

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Yeah, sure. So by the point of um of finishing high school, we went we were in the Merry Valley up in um in Gympie there on the river. Um and to be honest, by that point, mum and dad are builders, so they'd moved around a fair bit. Um they went out to Chinchilla, did a stint out there, and uh they were doing their thing and and they decided to go back to the coast um for a stint. So they they pretty much sold up horses and and um of our gear and and they went to the coast, so I followed too and ended up um oh gosh, I've done just about everything you could think of. Um did the airlines for a little bit, did um retail in the city, wanted to live the city life. I guess always just chased what uh what had my heart um and trying to work that back out as you get and navigate being a little bit older. So um, so yeah, I did radio, that was another thing that I went through, and and always I think just kept going around in circles um until the day that I I did end up packing up in my late 20s um in my little Yundai Kona and went out west and followed what my heart was telling me to do. And what was your heart telling you to do? Yeah, it was um just get back on a horse and be out in the bush and be on, you know, in a paddock. Um that smell of, you know, mob a cattle. Um, you know, we were massive cattle farmers growing up by any means, but um enough around them and and weekends at drafts, that just that early morning smell of, you know, a crisp crisp paddock or um yeah, just you know, had a pull. My heart just kept pulling me back no matter what I did. Um I just kept kept thinking about it.

SPEAKER_02 10:22

Yeah, and so what were you doing out there? Were you working on a property or mustering? Like what were you doing in in your twenties?

SPEAKER_00 10:28

Yeah, yeah. So um, so through my I guess my late twenties, and I did this also late in life, Steph. Um, I just I guess part of my journey was that I I probably should have listened to my heart a little bit sooner. Um, doing, you know, all the and exploring life um and having a great opportunity to do that with a family who supported me no matter what. But um yeah, I did a synup in in Monteau first, and I think that was the first time I'd left the coast on my own, no partner, family back, you know, Monto was only four hours away, but um drove the distance out there and I think I cried and cried and cried the whole way, thinking, you know, but there was something inside saying you just just do this. Um went for a drive in the middle of nowhere to a dam out at the back of Monto there, and there was um no reception. One side of the do the road was red dirt and the other was black dirt, and and um I think I cried so hard and then it was just done. And ever since then I've I've I think I've craved that feeling of of exploring the West and being so far away but feeling so at home. So um yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

Is that kind of right? Like the isolation, but you actually wanted that?

SPEAKER_00 11:45

Yeah, yeah. I I was craving it. Um I think it was just the courage that I had to muster up to, you know, do the unknown and and not do it with someone, you know, or with family, you know, in my back pocket, but just go and do it by myself. Um and I actually think they say the red dirt gets into your blood, and I think that's where, you know, I realised that it was still lying in my blood. So um so yeah, uh ended up going back to Brisbane for a stint in um in Margate there on on the bay side of Brizzly, north of Brisbane. Um and that little feeling, that little knock on the door that Brene Brown always talks about, that little knock, knock, knock just kept getting louder and louder. Um, and I guess it was getting older and and and older in life. Um, and that's when I, you know, had a a really lovely partner at the time. Um, but I just my soul was pulling me back west. Um so that's when I yeah, packed up and and off I went out to Adervale.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

And was this around the time like when did you have for you had a pretty nasty accident at one point?

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Uh yeah, yeah. So um there wasn't a massive accident itself. You know, I didn't I came off a horse, but a little later in life than that. Um, but you know, just just I think wear and tear, to be honest, growing up on the back of a horse. Um and my back ended up um I guess breaking on me. So at the time I was working in the city in the winter garden doing the glamour and glitzy city that I thought I was chasing um with a a bad back and um got to the point where I was pretty well um in a bad spot with it. Uh and by this point the the thought of going out west, it seemed so unreachable. Um, because I couldn't walk, you know, up up a road to get to work, let alone mount a horse. So um, so yeah, I I ended up getting surgery and um one of the doctors had said to me, What's you know, after then game here, what what what would you like to do? And I said, Oh I want to get back on a horse. And um and uh, you know, I I saw a little smirk on his face and he said, and what about you know, now, like in the next short-term goal, you know, in the next five to ten years. And that's you know, where I said, Oh, you know, I'm a I'm a tourist by star sign, and I think my bullhorns came out a bit there, and and I said, Oh, well, you know, maybe get back on the touchbody field or you know, get myself healthy and fit and a good night's sleep would be good. But um, I said I I just I want to get back on a horse. So um, so yeah, got myself right and did quite a bit of physio and the rehab, and I think that was also another part of it as I, you know, I'd had had this opportunity to get myself healthy again um and get my back into a condition it probably gets a bit cranky at times now for it, but um I got to a position where I I'd been given this opportunity again, you know, to have a healthy back and um I took it with both hands and ran with it.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Well, you certainly have done that and and the definition of getting back on the horse, literally. And at one point, your heart life led you to Roma. Tell me why the move to Roma.

SPEAKER_00 14:53

Yeah, sure. Um, I'm a big believer in everything happening for you. Um, and you know, you could take things as a sign of you're not meant to be here right now. Um, but um, yeah, so so I was with the company out at Aderbale on a station called Wellclose, um, so about two and a half hours west of Charleville. Um, and again, had never felt more at home being out in upbars country, in the channel country. Um, and then it was funny because the couple who initially hired me for this role when I was in Brisbane, it was all around when COVID was hitting, and um and they rain one day, lovely couple, and they said, Look, we've decided to actually leave the station. You still got a job here, we just won't be here when you come. Um, and by that point, you know, COVID had put a bit of a a standstill on things, and then this next thing had come that, you know, the lovely couple in the family that I guess I was gravitating to being out there somewhat, being from a big family, were leaving. And anyway, I still packed up and and went out there, uh, was out there only for a few months, and then I ended up moving in with the company uh to to Roma um to a block between um Roma and Injun. Um so the day the day that I left Ada Vale, so they'd had a heap of rain not not long before I went out there. So my little Kona was at a a friend's house in in Charleville um and made my way out there. And then when it was time to come in, this one day that I packed up this all my bags that I had a whole two of them, um, and um they had a the company pilot was out there at the time, Angus, and he flew me back in. So I'd flown from over this beautiful channel country of, you know, Mulga and and the vastness of the the western Queensland um into Charliebourne and packed my little cone up and drove into to Rock uh to Roma. Um got to the the block and was probably about a 15k drive to the feed lot and then another 10k over the hill back to the homestead we were. And um I think by that point I'd mentally just about clocked off and was on my phone having a quick message to say I'd arrived safe to my family. I hit a massive pothole um and completely shredded my tire. So here I am, and at the the day I think of the outfit I was wearing, I'd had a white linen skirt on and I think a RM shirt of some kind, and so I was a bit, you know, not built for the country at this point. Um and um so halfway through, and by by the point of going out west, added well and truly taught me how to, you know, change a tire and check my oil and water and just the necessities. And um, so I changed this little tire of the cone, and um one of the fellas working on the the block side that fed the the feedlot, he came past on his bike and pulled over and I thought, oh great. Oh, you know, I'm all good. I've got my tie changed. Um, and he kind of stayed for a chat, and next minute another bloke came past on a bonabike. Oh, here we go again. You know, here I am. And um, and then the third one that came along um was Christian, and you know, he kind of, you know, what have we got here? And you know, by this point I had three blokes standing there, but I I do like to say the story that I had changed my tire first and and um and help came after, but uh no, they they were all lovely, and um yeah, I guess from then onwards Christian and I developed a lovely friendship and we were on the block together, and and that was in the March, and by the July we had moved home to to Christian's phone block here in Kingaroy.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Thank God for that pothole, hey? Thank goodness for that pothole.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

Changing a tire.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

That's brilliant. Um, what a beautiful story for uh your little boy one day to to know that um not only would could could his mum change her own tire, which that would have felt really good doing that in front in front of a few blokes, um, that you know, meeting meeting his dad on the side of the road. That's um that's beautiful. And this love story has gone very well. You've you've grown your little family together. Um, but tell me a bit about that. So once things ramped up with Christian, obviously he's got his his family farm. I think you mentioned his fourth gen. You'd gone there planning your own job, and and tell me how that unfolded and and when the move to his family property happened and what that was like.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

Yeah, so um, so at the time, and this is another career path that I thought I was going down, I was halfway through studying my degree in teaching. So um, so uni was coming due to start back in the July, and and Christian's mum, Karen at the time was the principal at the local Lutheran school, and and he said, Well, you know, I I know a school teacher or a principal who could potentially give you a bit of work. So um I guess it all just lined up, and that's to me again, that's universe doing its thing. Um so yeah, we moved home. Um, Christian was doing a little bit of contract mustering still, but um, but yeah, just you know, that really slow and steady um transition and succession planning for um for the property. Um so um, so yeah, we we were here oh when was that, July of the 22. Um and then by April of the 24 we were engaged and we got um we got married on the same spot up on the hill here that we overlook in the Bunya Mountains that we got engaged on. Um so we we we we did a lot of thinking as to where and how we were going to get married and and Bethany being, you know, I'd only been here for a few months, but being such a sacred property with its history with, you know, um Sir Joe and Lady Flo and and then obviously Christian being of fourth generation um was very precious to his heart and and family. So um so yeah, we we decided to we had well there was the big old hay shed that sat towards our little farmhouse here and a few times we'd looked at it and thought, oh, what are we should we maybe ramp this up and and we could have our wedding in here? And so anyway, we we started the old hangar, uh, which is where we are now between um the the cattle farming and we've got a few lease blocks that we run cattle on and and um and home here. So we um we got married on C in secrecy on the Friday with just our immediate families. Um Dad and I rode the horses up together up to the hill that we got engaged on, so it was nice to to have that connection back with Dad and and um and yeah, and then we we had the big party on the Saturday night at the old hangar. Um, you know, we had wedding cards and you know, people, you know, expecting us to rock up in a white dress and a suit and and um yeah, we we did speeches and and Christian said we ha hate to tell you, but you've actually all missed it by 24 hours.

SPEAKER_02 21:47

So um So yeah, it was it was why did you guys um what what made that special for you? Why did you want to get married the day before just with such a small intimate group?

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Yeah, just our immediate families. Christian's one of five. Um Um and his parents and grandees and then my sister and my niece um and my parents. Um you know, we we've got such beautiful and extended family, but our um our immediate family mean the world to us. So having that up up the top on the same spot we got engaged in, and I like to tell Christian that's a house spot I'd like to build on one day. We'll just put the money tree first. Um yeah, yeah. So um, so yeah, and then we had, you know, we we didn't want to miss that big celebration, big hurrah with with our extended family and friends.

SPEAKER_02 22:32

That must have been must have taken the pr taken the pressure off a bit when you've already, you know, tied the knot and just to be able to relax and celebrate. Did you feel that?

SPEAKER_00 22:39

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Insane now, you know, for most of us who have gotten married now. It's still, you know, you're still standing there with sweaty palms and you know you're in front of your own family at the end of the day. But um, yeah, it it it was a really special day for us both. Um, and you know, even now we we if we're checking cattle or running the dogs of an RB or just having a scoot around and checking feed or or what not, we always pop up there and yeah, it reminds us of you know, part of our journey and what um what we've both, you know, sacrificed and lost and gained in the meantime.

SPEAKER_02 23:13

So that's beautiful. And tell me a bit about the old aeroplane hangar, which you've turned into the old hangar, beautiful rural venue. What was the vision behind that? How much blood, sweat, and tears went into it, and where is it at at the moment before we are before I want to hear about motherhood? Because did you do this before you became a mum?

SPEAKER_00 23:30

Did this before we had JJ and and had him reasonably close after the wedding. So um, so yeah, it's been a busy couple of years, that's for sure. Sometimes we've got to go outside and earth my feet a little bit just to, you know, feel the life that I'm living. Um, but um, yeah, so the old hanger. So when I was out in Roman step, I it's such a vibrant and social element out there, you know, between the football or the races or you know, ladies' days, or there's a lot happening. So when I came to Kingaroy, I I did crave that that connecting with people. Um, we've got a really beautiful community here in Kingaroy. We're really lucky. Um, so you know, you're meeting all these people and you want to have a drink and get the girls together and have fun. Um, and and you know, we've got some great venues and we've got some some great resources in the South Burnett between wineries and and the bunions and and the town and its history. But um I I wanted to give back to the community that I'd just joined. So um, so yeah, part of it was yes, have our wedding and have it on Bethany Gear, and then the other half was wanting to give back to the community. Um, you know, don't don't whinge about it, but rather bring something to the table. Um, and with the history of the land, and then John and Karen have had Bethany Cottage up up the top, and then the homesteaders heritage list that it gets um Airbnb. It it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to to make the hanger into what it is.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

It's absolutely stunning, and I know you do lots of weddings and gala's and charity events, and you name it. Um, and what a beautiful project for you and Christian to do together before the next chapter, um, which was becoming parents. So tell me, you mentioned soon after the wedding you fell pregnant. Tell me about the journey to becoming a mum and JJ and what that was like.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

Yeah, yeah. Um, so our little JJ, he um yeah, he he was pretty textbook everything. I I'm very blessed. Um good birth and hips, someone said to me once. Um so it's one good thing to to hip. Um, but um, yeah, so he he came into to the world here and um he's been a little dream boy. Um, you know, I at times I think I've got to step back and I mentioned this the other day and check myself, you know, we can get so busy in what we're doing and so excited and want to do things that can wait for another six months time. Uh but um, you know, just to remind myself that I'm doing it so I can be with him and be at home and and have days mustering where he comes in the buggy with me, or you know, one day he can go out with dad and and we we create a life that that's um that's for him and he has both parents for him and and um and and grandparents, that's another big thing for him. We've got both of our parents, um John and Karen are on the block a little bit further down to us and and mum and dad are a few hills over.

SPEAKER_02 26:18

So that's very special to have that that support and that village. And you mentioned things with textbook with with him with JJ. Was that also his birth? Like t take me through what you were expecting motherhood to be like, what what it ended up being for you and and those early days.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

Yeah, yep. So um we're very lucky in King Arroy, we've got a brand new facility here. So a um a brand new birthing suite um um MGP program in town here. So Alyssa, every time I see her now, she's also you know a mother in town, and I just about you know get that thick throat feeling when I see her, just with so much thankfulness. Um yeah, ended up um yeah, having him here in in King Roy and um ended up in the water birth, which was a whole different experience. Um yeah, yep. And then um, yeah, bringing him home. I think we had a you know Karen had held the fort down with the hangar and the bookings that we did have while we spent, you know, the first, you know, six, seven months with JJ, and then we really hit the ground running and we haven't stopped since. So um so yeah, he the little fella, he just comes with us everywhere in the pram. You know, there's times where we, you know, we've had a last minute viewing or a last minute this, and he's in the pram with us, and he just he comes along. He's um yeah, had to go like a kid. So very blessed for a healthy and and happy child, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02 27:42

And so have you felt like this transition to motherhood, I guess your own matrescence journey, which we all go through, was that has that been as good as you could ever imagine? Because it's different for everyone, the identity shift, you know, physically, emotionally, for you it sounds like, which is really beautiful, it sounds like it's been really smooth sailing.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

Yeah, and and look, I'm very blessed that I have had a very smooth, you know, um conception true to to postpartum now. Um we've got, you know, I talk back at talk about our community and and our our friends in town, um, that we've, you know, we've got this group of people who we do a homemaker swap with once a month and just to to connect with the mothers and you know, everyone has a a late night story or you know, um a question that we all think it, but nobody says it, and someone happens to to mention it, and the conversation comes up, including having a sleep nurse. Um, and then of course being from a big family, a mum's side of the family, where um there's four aunties and four uncles and kids galore. So we've got you know support with with my family and Christian's family. So we're not as remote as what others are, but um yeah, we're very lucky to have that that close village of people.

SPEAKER_02 29:02

Yeah, and it just makes such a difference. Like it's it's really beautiful to hear a really positive story because it's you know, motherland's about talking about the tough stuff because that that's what makes others feel less alone. But I think also highlighting that some, you know, some women are lucky to have that village. I think for you, having you know both sets of grandparent support, you know, friends, health services, because that's something that I find in speaking to mums makes such a difference from pregnancy through to postpartum is access to adequate local health services. And across Queensland, there have been many mums I've spoken to where that's been really lacking. But for you in Kingaroy, you mentioned the birthing, was it a birthing centre or is it part of the hospital? But just explain to us what's available there and the difference that made to you, because the alternative would have been much more difficult.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

Yeah, that's right. Um, so we uh the the hospital itself has a brand new maternity suite within that suite. There's the two um the actual birthing suites themselves, which are fully equipped with, you know, brand new facilities of big water baths. And I I remember looking back on through the MGP program and and walking in and doing the viewing, and it was all, you know, flowers and pretty, and then you see these two rooms down the end, and you either know you're gonna be going left or right, um, and the next time you're here. So um, so yeah, we've got great facilities. Uh, whether or not I do believe they they've uh possibly could have started doing cesareans here. So, you know, between the resources of the facility itself, but also the locums or the the midwifes and the nurses in our community are are phenomenal. Um, you know, it's there's such a mix from the young ones straight out of uni to the ones that you can tell have been doing it for a very long time and just bring that that level of grounding and humbleness and reminding of things that you that you need. So um yeah, forever grateful for for what we've had and with JJ and and some say excited, but you know, looking forward to going back into the birthing suite again and and having that support there because truly we we're blessed to have it.

SPEAKER_02 31:14

So when are you heading back into the birthing suite, right?

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Oh look, next question. No, no, it's um, you know, we're we're we've got too much of a beautiful life to not share, you know, with with kids. So to be able to raise our little ones on the land and you know bring back some of my childhood and and obviously Christians, it's um it it's truly a blessing for us.

SPEAKER_02 31:38

So it's beautiful. And um I wish every I wish every rural mum had could have that experience that you've had, particularly the the access to the hospital and and the birthing options. I mean, what a what a difference it would make to women's lives if they had that. So it's nice to know it exists, and um I wish that you know we could put more effort and energy into maternity services in rural areas, and that's a whole nother conversation. But for you, heading into nearly the 12-month mark of being a mum, and I think we always celebrate the baby's birthday, but um Sam and I have always said happy birthday to us for for you know getting through that year and and being strong and all that jazz. So for you, how are you feeling nearly one year in? And you know, what is life like for you? What are you looking forward to? You know, what are the plans, both with JJ, the old hangar, you know, life on the property, etc.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

Yeah, yeah. It's um I think you know, every year you sit here with goosebumps, because I think everyone gets that point, you know, especially with first Baba where you're you're looking back at photos and you just think, gosh, have I stopped enough to to smell the flowers and to really take in this little human's life. Um, but you know, I think also and y you're building a business and and um yeah, you I think you definitely have moments where you feel like you could be stopping more, but um, it's just that realization that they are only little ones. Um, you know, go and feed the duckies on the dam or go and you know, feed the pet Charolet that's you can scratch and sit on and and have that time outside. It's um the moments that we all dream about and what I once dreamt about back when I was in Brisbane and um and the coast. So um so yeah, going forward with the hangar, um, you know, it it's to me the biggest thing is, and again I refer reference being a tourist, it's um wanting to have it all and do it now and do it with this level of you know attentness, but I think it's reminding myself at the end of the day why I'm doing it, um, who I'm doing it for, and um yeah, enjoying the process along the way, shutting the office door.

SPEAKER_02 33:46

Yeah, and that's hard to do sometimes for some of us. And I remember when my kids were little babies, I remember I used to just want to throttle people who used to be like, the years, you know, the the days are long, the years are short, they're only little ones. I was like, shut up, you know, when sometimes when you're you're sleep, sleep deprived, or it's easy to say, but it it it is really true. So it's so beautiful that you're in it, like with such a young child that can see that. Um and we don't always get to stop and smell the roses, it's impossible to do all the time. But you know, this the self-awareness that you have, I think's really beautiful. And um, I wanted to ask you, you know, again, it's probably a bit silly asking someone with a young child and a business, you know, what you do for yourself outside of all that. But going back to your roots, camp drafting, is that something you've done since? Is that something that's part of your life at all? Or yeah?

SPEAKER_00 34:34

Yeah, it's um to be honest, I haven't drafted since I was younger. So um, so yeah, I've got a few, um, I've done a a few Felicity Burton clinics. Um, thank, thank Flip. And um have a few more lined up. So um, so just I think, you know, when we came back into to King Arroy, we both we jumped back on committees, you know, the Cambia Camp Draft Committee and the Local Stock Horse Society, and and I gave back through that way, but it probably meant that I didn't have a lot of time to actually get horse fit horse fit, but get camp draft fit and um and get back on drafting. But um it it's nice watching from the stands, but it's a hell of a lot fun and when you're having a go you go yourself, so um get in the ring, literally. Um, but um, but yeah, so it's you know, for myself sometimes I, you know, I've got to remember that feeling that I craved so badly was that connection to horses and that smell of a horse, if you know, you know, I think. Um, and being behind the mob of a you know of a cattle and and um and making sure that I actually allow the time to go when Christian says, you know, do you want to come must turn today? That I actually go and do that and make sure that my cup's full full too.

SPEAKER_02 35:44

So yeah, that's so beautiful. And you've literally you know gotten back on the horse a couple of times. It's so beautiful to hear about that that connection. And you should be so proud of everything you're doing for anyone in the the South Burnett region, you know, check out the old hangar, it's such a beautiful venue. Um, and I wanted to say thank you so much, Rachel, for sharing your story and to your beautiful cousin um for riding in with this beautiful detail, and it's it's a beautiful way to finish our summer season um of the podcast, which there's been some tough stories, but I think it's also really important to weave in the joy. Um, and you've certainly got a lot of that raising your beautiful little boy out there. So thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Rachel.

SPEAKER_00 36:24

Thanks very much, Steph, and thanks to all the crew at Motherland, the gala, everything. It was it was such a um, you get goose gunts talking about it because it was such a moment for us mums and for women in general to come together and and have a good time and and remember.

SPEAKER_02 36:38

Did I even get to talk to you pro at all? Like I just, it's all a bit of a whirlwind, but I feel so guilty that I didn't really get to speak. It's kind of like being at a wedding. Actually, should have done it your way when you've got that small spend some time with people. Um, but yeah, it was so great to have you. I'm so glad you had a good time.

SPEAKER_00 36:54

Yeah, no, it was it was wonderful. And I think I have to apologise because I think we were that noisy table up the back, yahooing the whole way.

SPEAKER_02 37:01

But um, no, it was I was sitting at my table going to my husband, Wolf whistle, wolf whistle, get the picture.

SPEAKER_00 37:08

We'll have a table, a um a seat at our table for you next time, Steph.

SPEAKER_02 37:13

Thank you so much, Ray.

SPEAKER_00 37:14

We love you guys. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 37:18

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed today's show. Discover beautifully crafted timeless furniture and homewares at Provincial Home Living. From linen sofas to solid timber dining tables, each piece brings warmth, character, and effortless style. Visit one of 37 stores across Australia or shop online to create a home you truly adore. And when was the last time you had space to think about your goals? Parent Pathways is a free voluntary program supporting parents and carers with mentoring, financial assistance and guidance. With up to$1,250 available each year, it's designed to help you move forward, whatever that looks like for you. Check out the link in today's show notes. And before I go, today was the last episode of our summer season. We're taking a quick two-week break so I can keep churning out some beautiful stories with rural mums. We'll be back on Monday, the 20th of April, with a brand new autumn season. I'll catch you then.