From her studio in regional Victoria, Becky-Jane Fortin is one of just a few milliners lovingly restoring Akubras. It was working with fur felt during her training in Germany and at a millinery master’s workshop in France, that the seed for working with Akubra was planted. In any given week there could be up to 10 hats at various stages of repair within her studio in the northern Victorian town of Shepparton. 

From her studio in regional Victoria, Becky-Jane Fortin is one of just a few milliners lovingly restoring Akubras. It was working with fur felt during her training in Germany and at a millinery master&rsquo;s workshop&nbsp;in France, that the seed for working with Akubra was planted. In any given week there could be up to 10 hats at various stages of repair within her studio in the northern Victorian town of Shepparton.&nbsp;

R.M.Williams OUTBACK reangles its authentic, experienced lens on rural and regional Australia into the audio space. The hugely successful OUTBACK magazine has been published for 25 years and knows the Australian bush like nobody else. This podcast is inspired by the informative writing and spectacular photography in the magazine but is not limited to this content. Explore Australian news, events, stations, nature, art, people, history, gear, tracks, travel, pubs, towns and much more.

R.M.Williams OUTBACK reangles its authentic, experienced lens on rural and regional Australia into the audio space. The hugely successful OUTBACK magazine has been published for 25 years and knows the Australian bush like nobody else. This podcast is inspired by the informative writing and spectacular photography in the magazine but is not limited to this content. Explore Australian news, events, stations, nature, art, people, history, gear, tracks, travel, pubs, towns and much more.

R.M.Williams OUTBACK

A journey in hats: Becky-Jane Fortin, international milliner and Akubra repairer

Ockert Le Roux's journey from a young boy with a camera to a renowned photographer and forestry expert is a testament to the power of passion and the beauty of the natural world. Ockert's love for photography sparked in 1976 during a school camp, where his father handed him a 1958 Pentax. His
Ockert's career path took him through forestry, ultimately leading him to Australia. His background in forestry has enriched his photography, allowing him to capture the landscapes and environments he loves.  

Ockert Le Roux's journey from a young boy with a camera to a renowned photographer and forestry expert is a testament to the power of passion and the beauty of the natural world.&nbsp;Ockert's love for photography sparked in 1976 during a school camp, where his father handed him a 1958 Pentax. His Ockert's career path took him through forestry, ultimately leading him to Australia. His background in forestry has enriched his photography, allowing him to capture the landscapes and environments he loves. &nbsp;

Seeing the wood and the trees: the remarkable Ockert La Roux on forestry and photography

Terri Cowley speaks with Felicity Richards about her path from Flinders Island to law, government work and eventually back to farming. They cover her leadership roles at FarmSafe and Tasmania’s Biosecurity Advisory Committee, plus the practical realities of running three cattle properties with her husband Mark and raising three children. Felicity shares how volunteering helped her reconnect with rural life, why she believes safety on farms needs to be treated as a choice rather than an inevitability, and what she’s learning about sustainable land management across different environments. The conversation also touches on women’s growing visibility in agriculture and the next generation of farmers. Highlights include:
Felicity’s upbringing on Flinders Island and why she assumed she would not become a farmer
Studying law in Canberra and how administrative law led her toward government accountability work
Calling the ombudsman’s office directly to ask for a job and landing in freedom of information work
Returning to Tasmania, rediscovering farming through her parents’ property near Carrick, and seeing farm business from an administrative perspective
Volunteering at the Launceston harvest market and learning how paddock-to-plate producers connect with consumers
Meeting her future husband while mustering cattle and fixing a fence on the neighbouring property
Running an all-beef enterprise across three properties with roughly 6,000 to 7,000 head of mostly Angus cattle
Managing different land types on Flinders Island, near Launceston and in northwest Tasmania, and learning how each country behaves
Why FarmSafe exists, what it does, and the national focus on reducing fatalities and injuries on Australian farms
The biggest safety risks she sees on farms, especially side-by-side vehicles, tractors, speed and seatbelts
How a near-drowning incident with her daughter Esme changed her understanding of active supervision around water
Tasmania’s biosecurity priorities, including preparation for bird flu
Why she’s stepping back from some commitments while still staying involved with FarmSafe
Her interest in farm waste, silage wrap, hay wrap and the push for better compostable alternatives
The growing visibility of women in agriculture and the importance of acknowledging the admin side of farm businesses

Terri Cowley speaks with Felicity Richards about her path from Flinders Island to law, government work and eventually back to farming. They cover her leadership roles at FarmSafe and Tasmania&rsquo;s Biosecurity Advisory Committee, plus the practical realities of running three cattle properties with her husband Mark and raising three children. Felicity shares how volunteering helped her reconnect with rural life, why she believes safety on farms needs to be treated as a choice rather than an inevitability, and what she&rsquo;s learning about sustainable land management across different environments. The conversation also touches on women&rsquo;s growing visibility in agriculture and the next generation of farmers. Highlights include:
<ul>
<li>Felicity&rsquo;s upbringing on Flinders Island and why she assumed she would not become a farmer</li>
<li>Studying law in Canberra and how administrative law led her toward government accountability work</li>
<li>Calling the ombudsman&rsquo;s office directly to ask for a job and landing in freedom of information work</li>
<li>Returning to Tasmania, rediscovering farming through her parents&rsquo; property near Carrick, and seeing farm business from an administrative perspective</li>
<li>Volunteering at the Launceston harvest market and learning how paddock-to-plate producers connect with consumers</li>
<li>Meeting her future husband while mustering cattle and fixing a fence on the neighbouring property</li>
<li>Running an all-beef enterprise across three properties with roughly 6,000 to 7,000 head of mostly Angus cattle</li>
<li>Managing different land types on Flinders Island, near Launceston and in northwest Tasmania, and learning how each country behaves</li>
<li>Why FarmSafe exists, what it does, and the national focus on reducing fatalities and injuries on Australian farms</li>
<li>The biggest safety risks she sees on farms, especially side-by-side vehicles, tractors, speed and seatbelts</li>
<li>How a near-drowning incident with her daughter Esme changed her understanding of active supervision around water</li>
<li>Tasmania&rsquo;s biosecurity priorities, including preparation for bird flu</li>
<li>Why she&rsquo;s stepping back from some commitments while still staying involved with FarmSafe</li>
<li>Her interest in farm waste, silage wrap, hay wrap and the push for better compostable alternatives</li>
<li>The growing visibility of women in agriculture and the importance of acknowledging the admin side of farm businesses</li>
</ul>

Tasmanian farmer and farm safety champion Felicity Richards

This is the story of Angela Teale's journey from a childhood fascination with space in Iowa, USA, to becoming a leading aerospace engineer in Australia As the 2026 Western Australian Rural Woman of the Year, she emphasises the importance of community support in her achievements and advocates for the potential of rural areas in the global space industry. Her experiences in the Air Force, her role in significant projects like the Square Kilometre Array, and her commitment to empowering the next generation in STEM highlight her multifaceted career.

Key takeaways:
Angela Teale's journey showcases the intersection of aerospace engineering and community impact.
The award she received is seen as a reflection of her community's efforts.
Angela emphasises the importance of local talent in rural areas.
Her background in the Air Force laid the foundation for her career.
Skydiving became a significant passion that connected her with her husband.
The Square Kilometre Array project represents a major milestone in her career.
Angela's work aims to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.
She believes in the potential of the Australian space industry to innovate.
Community support plays a crucial role in her professional journey.
Angela's story highlights the importance of transferable skills in the space industry.

This is the story of Angela Teale's journey from a childhood fascination with space in Iowa, USA, to becoming a leading aerospace engineer in Australia As the 2026 Western Australian Rural Woman of the Year, she emphasises the importance of community support in her achievements and advocates for the potential of rural areas in the global space industry. Her experiences in the Air Force, her role in significant projects like the Square Kilometre Array, and her commitment to empowering the next generation in STEM highlight her multifaceted career.
Key takeaways:
<ul>
<li>Angela Teale's journey showcases the intersection of aerospace engineering and community impact.</li>
<li>The award she received is seen as a reflection of her community's efforts.</li>
<li>Angela emphasises the importance of local talent in rural areas.</li>
<li>Her background in the Air Force laid the foundation for her career.</li>
<li>Skydiving became a significant passion that connected her with her husband.</li>
<li>The Square Kilometre Array project represents a major milestone in her career.</li>
<li>Angela's work aims to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.</li>
<li>She believes in the potential of the Australian space industry to innovate.</li>
<li>Community support plays a crucial role in her professional journey.</li>
<li>Angela's story highlights the importance of transferable skills in the space industry.</li>
</ul>

A journey in hats: Becky-Jane Fortin, international milliner and Akubra repairer

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