Enduring Hope

I’m exploring the enduring hope and tenacity of Australia’s primary producers. The men and women who continue through the good years and the bad, for a purpose bigger than themselves. Farming isn’t easy and is not always rewarding, especially in a sunburnt country that is experiencing the extremes of climate change.

Family legacy:
Tom was born into a family whose Irish ancestors founded the little country town he lives in 1821. Tom carries the weight of legacy as a birthright. Born into farming, he has carried on the work of his forefathers and worked the land his whole life. Farming isn’t easy and not always rewarding. Through the good years and the bad, Tom has pushed forward and continued. He’s seen his fair share of adversity. Family farm subdivisions, high interest rates and years with little to no rain.

He now faces a different kind of challenge. His son, drawn to the opportunities of the city, has chosen a different path. Though Tom and his wife respect his decision, they can’t help but hope that, in time, he might feel the same pull to the land that has anchored their family for generations.