We are the Kiely family of Uamby. You can visit our blog (http://envirofarming.blogspot.com) to learn about how we farm. This photo was taken by a young journalist from the Land newspaper back when we had grass, before the worst of the drought hit us. We aren't an old farming family. We took to 'the bush' seven years ago to learn the farming game and we've had six years of drought, pestilence, fire and flood. We love it. Louisa is the farmer. I am worth a half a sheepdog (the wrong half). And Daniel is our manager (and our son). We grow wool. Fine wool. Superfine wool. Mother Nature's favourite fibre. We run a humane farm. We protect the wildlife, we honour the former indigenous owners of the land, and we have reverence for the soil and all that it grows. Many people visit and stay with us. We enjoy having company. We also enjoy being alone here on our 'place'. There's nothing grand about us or our farm, except the sky at night and the mighty Cudgegong River as it races over the rocks. Now Louisa studied Agricultural Economics at the University of New England where I met her. (I was studying honours history and living on a farm, which made me attractive). We had three children before she finished her degree. And I promised her we'd live on our own farm if she came to the city with em and we made our fortune. The money appeared in the form of an insurance payout when I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at age 46. So we left our marketing business in the city and came out here to live. We have two adult daughters Jessica and Rachael. Rachael has made us proud grandparents of Xavier (5) and Brodie (1). Jessica has made us proud parents of a Young Businesswoman of the Year Finalist. And we're just proud of Dan because he's a city boy who took to farming and shearing and woolclassing like a duck to water, and earns respect from our neighbours as a good worker and a charming companion. That's us.
No comments:
Post a Comment