Reflecting on 2025 So Far: A Journey of Connection, Conversations and Community

As I sit back and reflect on the first six months of 2025, I feel nothing but gratitude. It has been a massive start to the year, full of travel, connection, yarns, and powerful moments that have reminded me exactly why I do what I do. From paddocks to podiums, sports clubs to boardrooms, and country towns to capital cities, I have had the privilege of standing beside everyday Australians, sharing stories, listening deeply, and starting the kind of conversations that actually matter.

This work is not just my job it is who I am. And these past six months have reminded me just how much impact a raw and honest story can have when it is shared with heart and purpose.

From the Road to the Regions

2025 started with the foot flat to the floor and a clear mission, to keep showing up for rural, regional and remote communities. From the red dust of the Northern Territory to the coastal winds of Tasmania, I have travelled thousands of kilometres to deliver keynotes, run workshops, sit by fires, and yarn with people who are doing it tough, or just wanting to do better.

A big shoutout to Middy's Electrical, for the opportunity to work together across Victoria, the Territory and Tassie has been a standout. Catching up with apprentices, contractors and business owners at their Info Nights has allowed me to bring the Unbreakable Wheel of Wellbeing to life in practical, down to earth ways. These are not just talks, they are real conversations that build understanding, strengthen connection, and remind people they are not alone.

What has stood out most is how hungry people are for genuine connection. We have spent too long powering through and just getting on with it. But this year, I have seen people lean in with open hearts, ready to say, “Let’s talk.”

Western Australia – Big Skies, Bigger Hearts

WA has left a lasting impression on me again this year. Firstly to be asked to be an Ambassador and then I was lucky enough to hit the road again with the Blue Tree Project crew for a short but mighty regional tour. From Geraldton to Wongan Hills, we painted trees, screened Just A Farmer, ran quiz nights and created safe spaces for honest chats about mental health, community and connection.

Kendall, Cass and the team, your drive and passion to break down stigma is inspiring. I am stoked to be welcoming you to my side of the country later this month to keep the momentum going. Together, we are making a difference.

Speaking From the Heart

In the first half of this year, I have spoken with such a wide range of people, from CFA leaders and volunteers, large organisations and businesses, to local communities, tradies, students, councils, health workers and farmers feeling the weight of life. Each audience has been different, but the message has stayed the same, your mental health matters. You matter.

Whether I have been speaking about the Hero’s Journey, running the Triple H activity, or sharing the Unbreakable Wheel of Wellbeing, I have seen time and again how powerful lived experience can be when shared without fluff or filters. Vulnerability is not weakness, it is courage in its purest form.

Wearing Many Hats – All With Meaning

This year I have continued my work as an ambassador for some incredible organisations like Ballarat Men’s Mental Health, Blue Tree Project, Cottage by the Sea, Ballarat Men’s Mental Health, Alexandra Truck Show and events like the Alexandra Truck Show and Farmers Night Off with the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society.

These roles are not just about logos or titles. They are about legacy, about backing community-driven work and standing alongside people making real change from the ground up. The same goes for the many media interviews, podcast chats and features I have been part of this year, it is about keeping mental health and community conversations front and centre where they belong.

A Grateful Advocate

As The Unbreakable Farmer, I carry my story with pride. I do not sugar-coat the hard stuff, I speak to the real struggles faced in the bush. The droughts, the floods, the uncertainty, the family breakdowns, the financial pressure, the silence that creeps in when things get too much.

But I also speak to hope. To building capacity, not just bouncing back. To growing a mental health and wellbeing toolkit that can help people face whatever storm rolls in next.

Looking Ahead – Let’s Keep the Momentum Going

As we look to the second half of 2025 and beyond, I want to put out a genuine call to action:

If you are a business, a community group, a school, a sports club, a council or an industry organisation looking for someone to start a conversation, shift a mindset or connect with your people in a real and honest way. I bring lived experience, no spin, and a strong belief in the power of connection and communication to make a lasting difference.

Let’s work together. Let’s keep breaking the stigma. Let’s keep building stronger, more supported communities, one conversation at a time.

To all the legends I have met already this year, thank you. Your support, encouragement and openness means more than I can say.

And to those I have not met yet, let’s change that.

Stay tuned, there is more to come. I am pumped to be part of some big projects across Australia in the second half of 2025, working with amazing people, tackling tough topics, and continuing to bring these conversations to the front where they belong. Watch this space.

www, theunbreakablefarmer.com.au

www.beyondthebackpaddock.com.au