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

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>

Reaching for the stars: aerospace engineer Angela Teale

Jill Colwell shares her incredible journey participating in the 1988 Great Australian Camel Race, her experiences with camels, and the lessons learned from this extraordinary adventure. Discover the challenges, triumphs, and the historical significance of this unique event, as Jill's children's book about this incredible event is released to a new generation.

Some highlights:
Jill Colwell’s training and relationship with Tiki the Camel
Challenges faced during the race: terrain, weather, health issues
The role of camels in Australian history and their adaptation
Lessons learned about perseverance, teamwork, and luck

Jill Colwell shares her incredible journey participating in the 1988 Great Australian Camel Race, her experiences with camels, and the lessons learned from this extraordinary adventure. Discover the challenges, triumphs, and the historical significance of this unique event, as Jill's children's&nbsp;book about this incredible event is released to a new generation.
Some highlights:
<ul>
<li>Jill Colwell&rsquo;s training and relationship with Tiki the Camel</li>
<li>Challenges faced during the race: terrain, weather, health issues</li>
<li>The role of camels in Australian history and their adaptation</li>
<li>Lessons learned about perseverance, teamwork, and luck</li>
</ul>

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

R.M.Williams OUTBACK

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