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Father Land
After nearly six years of sharing the stories of rural mums, national charity Motherland couldn't believe one had done the same for rural dads. Father Land is Australia’s first podcast dedicated to fathers on the land—a bold platform giving rural dads a voice.
Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, journalist, and rural mum Stephanie Trethewey, Father Land is a space for unfiltered conversations about fatherhood, identity, and mental health in the bush.
Each episode dives into the messy, meaningful realities of life on the land—the wins, the losses, the laughs, and the moments that hit hard. With humour, heart, and honesty, we challenge outdated stoicism and celebrate the courage it takes to be honest.
Because vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s part of being a bloody good dad.
Father Land
Father Land #6: Sobriety, Vulnerability & Masculinity on the Land with Matthew Tonkin
What does it mean to be a good man in the bush? For Matthew Tonkin, the answer has transformed over time. Growing up the youngest of five on his family’s farm near the NSW–Queensland border, Matthew believed a man’s worth was in hard work and providing for his family. But as farm debt and expectations mounted, he equated strength with silence—a silence that led to drinking, despair, and darkness. Seven years sober, Matthew now speaks openly about vulnerability, self-respect, and caring for yourself so you can care for others. As a father of four, grandfather, and leader in agriculture, he’s found a new kind of strength rooted in compassion, discipline, and connection. This episode explores masculinity, resilience, and hope—how one man remade his life, and what his journey reveals about the men raising families and running farms across rural Australia.
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Sober in the Country