Motherland Australia – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Amanda Ferrari grew up in Sydney with no ties to agriculture, yet felt an undeniable pull to the bush. That path took her from nannying and ag college nights, to Warren, Trangie, the cotton industry, and eventually to a life with her husband, Ross. Motherhood began with a shock—discovering she was pregnant with twins during a “friends with benefits” chapter. Premature labour, weeks in hospital, a traumatic birth, and deep loneliness shaped her early years of parenting. Later, the arrival of her son Ollie brought her darkest mental health battle yet. Today, Amanda channels her strength and honesty into supporting rural families through The Boarding School Collective, helping parents and children navigate the distance and grief she knows so well. This is her story.

Pregnancy Loss Support: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/ 

24/7 Crisis Support: Lifeline 13 11 14 

 R.M.Williams boots are made to last—strong, dependable, and built for life on the land. For generations, rural mums have trusted RMs for paddock runs, long drives, and moments that matter. Shop now HERE

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

What happens when the life you built falls apart? Sarah Henney moved to Longreach for love, leaving behind her Gold Coast life to build something new. But years of IVF, raising two little boys and feeling the weight of holding everything together slowly began to take a toll…not just on Sarah, but on her marriage. As the isolation deepened and her marriage broke down, Sarah was forced to rebuild. Now, from the coastal town of Yeppoon, she’s raising her boys and running Outback Linen Co, redefining what happiness and home looks like, on her own terms. This is her story. 

Mental health crisis support: Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

Based in regional NSW, Birdsnest truly understands regional life. Visit their stores in Cooma or Burleigh Heads, or shop online from your kitchen table.  Birdsnest stocks sizes 8–24. Join their supportive ‘wardrobe wingbirds’ on Facebook, Instagram or via their weekly newsletter. 

Join Motherland Village today: motherlandaustralia.com.au/motherland-village

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

When journalist Virginia Tapscott became a mum, she thought she’d be back at work within six months. But motherhood had other plans. Raised on a cattle and cropping farm near Narrabri, Virginia had built a career telling stories that mattered, first in the city and later back in the bush she loved. But once she became a mother, life on the farm with young children gave her a front-row seat to the invisible labour of care. Balancing paid work with childcare drop-offs, she realised what society calls “work” often overlooks the unseen labour mothers do at home — the sleepless nights, the meals, the emotional load. That realisation fuelled her advocacy. Through the Parents Work Collective and her new book All Mothers Work, Virginia is challenging how our systems undervalue the job of raising children. This is her story. 

Support services:

1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kincoppal-Rose Bay Boarding is a second home where balance, care, and belonging come first. For rural and regional families, it’s a place where girls grow in confidence and discover their potential. Visit www.krb.nsw.edu.au/boarding

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

When Leila McDougall finished school, she left the land and headed to the big smoke to study fashion design. But it wasn't long before the country came calling again, and she settled down in rural Victoria with her husband. Since then, Leila has had two children; she's navigated mental health challenges most of her life- her parents have also struggled. Leila had just had her first child, when her mum attempted to take her own life. Leila is a fierce mental health advocate for rural Australia, so much so that she's made a movie to shine a light on mental health on the land. "Just a Farmer" may be a fictional movie, but with Leila as the lead character, it brings with it some very real and powerful messages. This is her story.

Give the gift of craft this Christmas with R.M.Williams. Shop their festive gift guide full of thoughtful, handcrafted and Australian made gifts that promise a lifetime of adventures. Explore the full collection now at rmwilliams.com.au.

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Emma Jackson has lived in the Cape York Peninsula for more than 20 years. She's originally from North Manchester, and the transition to life in rural Australia was a bit of a shock, not to mention the fact that yes, a snake tried to eat her son one night... but there is much more to her story!  Emma has four kids, and is in the thick of navigating the teen years. Mental health has been a huge focus for her family, especially after her nephew took his own life shortly after finishing year 12. That led Emma to start the Conquer the Corrugations charity walk. In 2021, Emma saved someone's life, which is why she was named the 2022 RFDS Queensland Hero. We cover a lot in our chat. This is Emma's story.

Give the gift of craft this Christmas with R.M.Williams. Shop their festive gift guide full of thoughtful, handcrafted and Australian made gifts that promise a lifetime of adventures. Explore the full collection now at rmwilliams.com.au.

The King’s School is one of Australia’s largest boarding communities and has welcomed boys from Regional Australia for nearly two hundred years.Applications are now open for King’s 2025 Scholarships and Bursaries for Years 7 to 11. Visit www.kings.edu.au

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Maggie Mackellar is a writer, living on a fine wool merino farm on the east coast of Tasmania. Maggie didn't grow up on the land, but her family's strong ties to farming were her saviour during the hardest years of her life. Maggie's husband suicided more than 20 years ago. At the time, she had a five year old and was pregnant with their second child. In  the same year, Maggie lost her mum. She escaped the city and sought refuge at her aunt and uncle's property to figure out her next steps. What happened over the next eight years, was not what she had planned. Her writing career flourished... and amongst it all, she found love again through the most unexpected way. In our chat Maggie reflects on grief, mental health, motherhood, and importantly, what's it's like in this new chapter of motherhood- with her children now grown up! This is her story.

Give the gift of craft this Christmas with R.M.Williams. Shop their festive gift guide full of thoughtful, handcrafted and Australian made gifts that promise a lifetime of adventures. Explore the full collection now at rmwilliams.com.au.

The King’s School is one of Australia’s largest boarding communities and has welcomed boys from Regional Australia for nearly two hundred years.Applications are now open for King’s 2025 Scholarships and Bursaries for Years 7 to 11. Visit www.kings.edu.au

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Fiona is a dairy farmer based in Deniliquin, NSW. She's one of seven children and grew up in a very loving catholic family. Fiona went on to have four children of her own, all boys, but it wasn't long before she realised her third son, was a bit different. At first, it was easy to brush off his desire to dress and act like a girl as a bit of fun, but as the years went on, Fiona and her husband realised this was very real- and it was life threatening.
At 13, Fiona's son told her he was transgender, born with a body he said he simply couldn't live with much longer Since then, it's been a roller-coaster for the whole family to say the least.  And for Fiona, she's had to navigate so many emotions- shock, fear, grief- and immense love, all that the same time. From it all, Alice has emerged.... Alice is now 16 living happily as a transgender teenage girl. This is Fiona's story.

Give the gift of craft this Christmas with R.M.Williams. Shop their festive gift guide full of thoughtful, handcrafted and Australian made gifts that promise a lifetime of adventures. Explore the full collection now at rmwilliams.com.au.

Get 15% off when you spend $100 or more at The Memo. Use code MOTHERLAND15 at checkout to redeem. It’s your parenting & baby destination with gifts for every age, stage, price and personality. This offer is valid until 20 Nov 2023. T&Cs and exclusions apply. Valid for new customers only.

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Anthea Fellows is a mum and a grandmother and over the past few decades she's worked tirelessly doing community work across various organisations and charities.  Anthea has been married for 35 years and her life has been anything but dull. At 22, she left the Adelaide Hills and moved to a cattle station just outside Alice Springs where she met a jackaroo, and, well, you know what happened next! Anthea had two children and struggled with her mental health at times. Her husband was also battling his own demons, and after 14 years of station life, they decided to leave the property and were gone within a week. There was a twist I didn't see coming in our chat though, just eight years ago, Anthea's husband ended up in a Chinese prison. And Anthea's response to him being jailed... took me by surprise to say the least! This is her story.

Discover the art of fine leather craftsmanship at Saddler & Co - offering simple, elegant, practical and beautifully crafted leather goods that will endure from one season to the next. Order in time for Christmas and enjoy 15% off when you apply or mention code MOTHERLAND [Valid until Nov 27]

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Karla Williams lives on a dairy farm in Tassie, she's a nurse and a mum of two little boys, and over the past two years I've grown to know her and love her through our Motherland Village group. To understand Karla's motherhood journey, you have to understand her childhood. Her parents are deaf, and Karla was just 10 months old when she first learned to sign which is how she communicated with them. In many ways, Karla was a mother and a carer, before having children of her own. And when she did start her own family, her experience with her first child was everything she'd hoped for. But a few months into her second pregnancy, she started to experience bouts of rage, and things got worse after she welcomed her second son. Karla is so incredible brave and vulnerable... she shares the heart-stopping moment she knew she needed help, and how finding support through our village and the Gidget Foundation saved her. 

The Dr Golly Sleep Program, designed to equip parents with reliable sleeping skills for newborns through to preschoolers. Visit www.drgolly.com for more information on both Dr Golly’s sleep program and his new book “Your Baby Doesn’t Come With a Book” and receive $20 off the Dr Golly Sleep Program when you use code MOTHERLAND20 at checkout.

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Kate Pianto is one of my dearest friends. She's in my Motherland Village group, and over the past two years I've had the pleasure of getting to know this amazing woman. But I'll be honest, sitting down with her for this podcast was a bit shocking at times, because she said things I've never heard her say before. Kate has ADHD and was only diagnosed when she was 26. She was seeing a psychologist at the time for postnatal depression and was in a really really dark place. Interestingly, ADHD actually helped Kate thrive as a first time mum, she had an incredible first year before things got very difficult for her. As someone whose partner has ADHD, I found our chat so enlightening and helpful. It's not been easy for Kate to manage ADHD alongside motherhood, her marriage, and her mental health. A quick warning, today's episode does discuss suicidal thoughts, and pregnancy loss. If you or anyone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

Get 15% off all your parenting and baby essentials at The Memo when you spend $100 or more. Use code MOTHERLAND at checkout to redeem. This offer is valid until 20 Nov 2023. T&Cs and exclusions apply. Valid for new customers only.

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia