Dairying can be a tough and stressful industry at times.
Around 20 dairy farming women from across the Alpine Valley recently met up in Corryong for a morning tea to touch base and check in on their mates.
The morning tea was sponsored by Alpine Valleys Dairy.
Organiser Meaghan Daly said it was a great couple of hours.
“This is the second event we have held and it was great with lots of positive feedback,” Meaghan said.
She said women on dairy farms often wear many hats — working as a labour unit, running the books and taking care of the family and organising kids.
“The dairy industry can be tough one and women are very supportive — it is important to take some time out and check in.”
Meaghan said this had become even more apparent with some tragic losses experienced in the region, including the recent suicide of a local dairy farmer.
“We have a great ability to talk to and support each other. We understand floods, fires, sudden deaths and we do get around and support each other when times are tough.”
Meaghan has been farming at Jingellic for 14 years.
She now works full-time on the family farm and is a first responder with Ambulance Victoria.
“Mental health is a big part of our role there, too.”
She said Alpine Valley farmers are looking forward to a good season after a tough 2024-25.
“We have got grass ready to silage and we are just waiting for a window of opportunity. We have used up our fodder reserves and need to build them back up again.”
The family invested in a 20-a-side swing-over dairy 12 years ago, and moved away from flood irrigation to the use of pivots.
They have figured out what works best for their own management, which includes keeping herd numbers around 200.
“We milk mainly Friesians and some Jersey and Jersey-crosses for extra butterfat,” Meaghan said.
“We received a milk quality award this year which makes getting up early in the morning worth it.”
The milking platform consists of 127ha out of the 607ha.
Meaghan is expecting her three adult sons to come home over the next five years.
“We want to keep going for the next generation,” she said.
Maree Colbert also attended the morning tea.
She agrees that it is important to keep in touch.
“We are always on the front foot picking up the pieces and we don’t always find the time to catch up, which is part of good mental health,” Maree said.
She said the region has been through some particularly tough times including the tragic fires of 2019.
“That was a horrific time which exhausted many, and farmers are still grappling with all of that.”
Maree said she lost property at Tintaldra but luckily their young stock took shelter in the dam and were saved.
She said her neighbours were not so lucky.
“Their cows are now buried on our place.”
Maree said said everything happened so quickly but the memory of having to euthanise cattle lives on in many people.
Both Meaghan and Maree recently attended the 2025 National Bale Up Conference, which was held in Kingscliff, NSW.
“It is great to get away and meet up with other women who understanding and deal with the same issues,” Maree said.
“The morning tea was a great platform to update others on Bale Up as well.”
Maree came home to the family farm in 2003 after purchasing her brother’s share.
Their operation now milks up to 240 split-calving cows.
“Our herd is predominantly Friesian with 20 to 30 Jerseys now giving it a nice bit of colour,” she said.
Rose Turner said the morning tea provided a lovely relaxing chat and a chance to talk about what has been happening on the farm among other things.
“I try to attend as many of these events as I can,” Rose said.
“My partner moved back to his family farm five years ago and I was travelling back to Wodonga — now that I have moved here permanently I am looking to get more involved and it has been a great way to meet new people.”
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