Drought was crippling the family’s lucerne farm in 2020 when Russell Jenner brightened his wife Jenny’s day with a bunch of store-bought sunflowers. Unknowingly, he planted the seeds for Kalbar’s annual Sunflower Festival. When Russell passed away with cancer in 2023, Jenny pressed on, and today the three-day Kalbar Sunflower Festival is a sell-out, raising thousands of dollars to support those dealing with the effects of cancer.

Some key points:
The impact of drought on farming and water management
Managing festival logistics and visitor numbers
Supporting local community and tourism
Sunflowers: the cultivation process
The positive impact of sunflowers on well-being

Drought was crippling the family&rsquo;s lucerne farm in 2020 when Russell Jenner brightened his wife Jenny&rsquo;s day with a bunch of store-bought sunflowers. Unknowingly, he planted the seeds for Kalbar&rsquo;s annual Sunflower Festival. When Russell passed away with cancer in 2023, Jenny pressed on, and today the three-day Kalbar Sunflower Festival is a sell-out, raising thousands of dollars to support those dealing with the effects of cancer.
Some key points:
<ul>
<li>The impact of drought on farming and water management</li>
<li>Managing festival logistics and visitor numbers</li>
<li>Supporting local community and tourism</li>
<li>Sunflowers: the cultivation process</li>
<li>The positive impact of sunflowers on well-being</li>
</ul>

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

Jenny Jenner: Turning a sunflower festival into a legacy cancer project

Brendan Cullen shares his journey from rural Australia to swimming the English Channel, overcoming mental health challenges, and advocating for rural mental health awareness. Discover his training secrets, personal struggles, and how vulnerability transformed his life.

Some highlights:

• Brendan's feature in Great Australians and his feelings about it

• Training for the English Channel swim and the challenges faced

• Advocacy for rural mental health and Brendan’s role in support programs

• The power of vulnerability and helping others

• Experiences swimming the English Channel and the challenges

• Life after the swim: work, recovery, and community

• Advice for those struggling with mental health

 

Brendan Cullen shares his journey from rural Australia to swimming the English Channel, overcoming mental health challenges, and advocating for rural mental health awareness. Discover his training secrets, personal struggles, and how vulnerability transformed his life.
Some highlights:
&bull; Brendan's feature in Great Australians and his feelings about it
&bull; Training for the English Channel swim and the challenges faced
&bull; Advocacy for rural mental health and Brendan&rsquo;s role in support programs
&bull; The power of vulnerability and helping others
&bull; Experiences swimming the English Channel and the challenges
&bull; Life after the swim: work, recovery, and community
&bull; Advice for those struggling with mental health
&nbsp;

The desert swimmer Brendan Cullen on keeping the black dog at bay and life beyond farming

Annabelle Brayley shares her journey from nursing to storytelling, focusing on the recognition of Vietnam nurses through a memorial in her home town of Morven, outback Queensland. Discover the history, challenges, and inspiring stories of these women, and learn how community efforts are preserving their legacy.

Some key points:
History of Australian Vietnam nurses
The creation and significance of the Morven memorial
Challenges faced by women nurses in Vietnam
Community involvement in memorial projects
The importance of authentic storytelling in history

Annabelle Brayley shares her journey from nursing to storytelling, focusing on the recognition of Vietnam nurses through a memorial in her home town of Morven, outback Queensland. Discover the history, challenges, and inspiring stories of these women, and learn how community efforts are preserving their legacy.
Some key points:
<ul>
<li>History of Australian Vietnam nurses</li>
<li>The creation and significance of the Morven memorial</li>
<li>Challenges faced by women nurses in Vietnam</li>
<li>Community involvement in memorial projects</li>
<li>The importance of authentic storytelling in history</li>
</ul>

From stories in OUTBACK magazine to championing Australia's forgotten nurses of the Vietnam War: writer and former nurse Annabelle Brayley 

Join us as we explore the fascinating life of Peter Taylor, a Top End character with a diverse background in wildlife, cattle station management, and oil rig operations. Discover insights into sustainable wildlife care, station life, and the unique ecosystem of Finniss River Station.

Highlights include:
Peter Taylor's diverse career in wildlife, cattle, and oil rigs
Sustainable wildlife management and crocodile egg harvesting
Life on Finnis River Station and seasonal changes
Birdwatching and species diversity in the Northern Territory
Lessons learned from a lifetime in the Australian outback

Join us as we explore the fascinating life of Peter Taylor, a Top End character with a diverse background in wildlife, cattle station management, and oil rig operations. Discover insights into sustainable wildlife care, station life, and the unique ecosystem of Finniss River Station.
Highlights include:
<ul>
<li>Peter Taylor's diverse career in wildlife, cattle, and oil rigs</li>
<li>Sustainable wildlife management and crocodile egg harvesting</li>
<li>Life on Finnis River Station and seasonal changes</li>
<li>Birdwatching and species diversity in the Northern Territory</li>
<li>Lessons learned from a lifetime in the Australian outback</li>
</ul>

Jenny Jenner: Turning a sunflower festival into a legacy cancer project

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