We are proud to manage the water that’s the lifeblood of southern Victoria’s rural economy. Good water management is critical for supporting a thriving agricultural sector, healthy environment and strong communities. For us, community is vital because it’s the glue that binds everything, and it’s why we provide support through sponsorship to initiatives and people that enhance community. People like Julie Weatherhead who recently won Food and Fibre Gippsland Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year.
Julie co-owns Peppermint Ridge Farm that is a living classroom showcasing sustainable agriculture and the benefits of native foods. Over 40 years she has restored lost habitats, increased biodiversity and achieved business success using polyculture to produce food and fibre that provides a living. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her wisdom insightful and her passion for teaching inspiring which is why we were thrilled when she won the award we sponsored at Food and Fibre Gippsland 2024 awards.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Julie about her life in agriculture and what the award means to her. Here’s what she had to say.
What does winning the award mean to you?
I’m humbled by the award and happy because it provides an opportunity to focus on the great work women do on the farms.
Growing up on a farm, it could be quite male orientated, and the work of women could get overshadowed. This award is special to me because it recognises my achievements and shines a light on the value women bring to the sector.
Tell us about your agricultural career.
I was raised on my family’s farm that dates to the 1890s. My dad named it after the peppermint gums that grow on the property and were used to produce peppermint eucalyptus oil before it was run for grazing beef cattle.
Like many white-settlers, the Eurocentric approach to agriculture led to land-clearing and declines in biodiversity. So, when an opportunity came up to buy a portion of the farm from my family in 1983, I jumped at it because I wanted to do things differently.
As a qualified ecologist, I wanted to create a farm that’s integrated with the environment and show that agricultural productivity can work in harmony with nature.
So, me and my partner Anthony set about fencing off remnant bushland and waterways, planting native trees and restoring lost habitats to encourage beneficial insects and wildlife. And we’ve managed to bring back creatures like blue-banded bees, goannas, echidnas, bower birds and a lovely mob of kangaroos.
We’ve run several enterprises on the property, including a free-range egg farm and an environmental education business. We’re currently focused on showcasing Australia’s unique native foods for their incredible culinary and health properties.
We have a nursery that supplies native plants, immersive bushfood Tour and Taste experiences including lunch in our Schoolhouse café that serves dishes using native foods, I run native food cooking workshops and lead school incursions that help teachers and kids set up native food gardens. I love my job because it brings together everything that I’m passionate about.
How do you think the role of women in agriculture has changed?
Thankfully, I think the perception of women in agriculture is changing and I think there’s broader support for their role in farming.
Years ago, it was very hard for women who wanted to excel because old-fashioned attitudes prevented girls and women getting the skills and knowledge they needed. Girls in my day weren’t taught how to use a chainsaw, service a tractor or deliver lambs so we couldn’t fully contribute even though we were capable.
In 1986 the first Rural Women’s Network was established in Victoria. I joined the Women on Farms program in the 1990s, which was an initiative of the network. It was a great program that helped farming women connect and offered a course that taught very practical skills. It gave me so much confidence and helped me in my journey. I was honoured to be awarded a Victorian Rural Women’s Award in 2003 which enabled me to research native food enterprises in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
Today, I think the Rural Women’s Network is as important as it’s ever been, and the leadership and mentoring programs offered still play a vital role in creating more opportunities for more women.
What do you love about working in agriculture?
Waking up to this glorious place every day and seeing all the wildlife is an everyday joy that never gets old.
I absolutely love being my own boss and the challenge of having to manage the farm and business and all the creative thinking and problem solving it requires.
However, I think one of my greatest pleasures is walking around the farm and thinking ‘what am I going to cook tonight?’ and then harvesting amazing native foods that I bring to life in a delicious dinner.
Finally, what are the greatest opportunities for your business and the region in the future?
I think where we are is an opportunity and challenge because west Gippsland isn’t on that many people’s radar and yet it’s got so much to offer.
We’ve got boutique wineries and fantastic restaurants like Cannibal Creek and Hogget Kitchen down the road from us and so many options outdoors fans with Bunyip State Park nearby.
There’s a great opportunity to raise the profile of region and we’re excited to be a part of that because we offer something unique.
We have an incredible range of native plants and foods and can show people how to grow them and use them in recipes that will impress your friends and family at the table.
So, next time you want to leave the city, come and see us in West Gippsland for a taste of something a bit different.