Gippsland Jersey recently launched its Mental Health Calendar for the year ahead as farmers recover from a difficult 2025.
It has only been in the past few weeks that many producers have felt a reprieve from an exceptionally dry period that brought financial, physical and mental strain to many.
The calendar, which aims to highlight the internal struggles on the land, comes at a poignant time of reflection.
“These last three months have been brilliant, so you just gotta always try and look forward and see that eventually it does turn around. That’s just the cycle of farming.”
Each year, Pakenham-based dairy producer Gippsland Jersey publishes a calendar highlighting 12 farmers and their stories.
The Farming Conversations Calendar was first established in 2018 to start a conversation around mental health among dairy farmers who face significant ups and downs.
The 2016 dairy crisis had severe consequences for dairy farmers, and the publication of the first calendar two years later highlighted the quiet struggle of many.
The 2026 calendar was launched on Monday 8 December with a new set of 12 testimonies from farmers across Gippsland.
The calendar has become a pillar supporting the industry, expressing the many stories behind those who work the land. This year’s farmers tell a range of stories from the trauma of tragically losing loved ones to the impacts of bushfires that are still felt today.
The calendar is dedicated to the Gippsland region, but with Monash MP Mary Aldred joining the launch, a copy will be on its way to Canberra.
The past 12 months alone have been turbulent for farmers, particularly dairy producers, as pastures grew little and dams dried up during one of the driest periods for southeastern Australia in recent memory.
Many had to rely increasingly on purchasing feed at rising prices, some had to buy water, and others found themselves better off destocking than hoping for miracle rains.
Dairy farmer Julie Fusinato, 67, and her husband were fortunate to be well prepared with feed and other necessities for their 200 acres in Neerim South, a level of planning that comes with spending a lifetime at the mercy of the weather.
However, the struggle across the whole industry was not lost on Julie. In 2008, she lost her sister to suicide.
The pain of that loss has given them a deep appreciation for their own well-being and an even greater one for others.
“It’s a tough gig, but you need to remember self-care mode,” she said.
“You have to concentrate on what you can control rather than on all the things you can’t.”
Every year, a holiday from farming is a must, not only for a break from the physically demanding work but also to decompress the pressures of the year and start fresh.
When she got the call this year from Gippsland Jersey co-founder Sallie Jones, Julie was more than happy to be featured in the new calendar.
“They do a fantastic job of highlighting farmers; it gets the conversation out there,” she said.
Poowong North dairy farmer Luke Wallace, 52, feels there are more worthy farmers than him to fill the December spot in the new calendar.
His humility is typical of many farmers, and he used that to put off being included in previous years.
But when Sallie persisted once again this year, he finally accepted.
“Over the years, I’ve coped pretty well with stress and challenges. I think I’ve had good people around me and good family support,” he said.
“But certainly this last season, where everyone struggled with that long summer.
“It’s the most mentally and physically exhausted I have been since I started farming.”
Luke has been farming since he left high school, on a property that has been in his family for three generations.
A lot of money went to feed, and there were worries about water as their main supply began to run empty.
But the heavy rain over spring turned the situation around, as it has for so many others.
Of course, Luke acknowledges that there were many farmers in far worse conditions.
“Some areas were worse, far worse than others. We have friends down the western district that have pretty much been in it for 18 months,” he said.
“But it is amazing how quickly things can turn around with rain and a decent milk price.
“These last three months have been brilliant, so you just gotta always try and look forward and see that eventually it does turn around. That’s just the cycle of farming.”
Gippsland Jersey co-founder Steve Ronalds also farms 450 acres in Jindivick. He fared better than others during this dry season, but with so many connections in the industry, he could see how tough it was.
“Frightened is probably a good word,“ he said of the feelings of many farmers when going into spring this year.
With the launch on Monday, it further highlighted what the calendar has become for the industry as a whole.
“I think what the difference is with our calendar is it’s highlighting that as an industry, just as humans in general, life can throw up some challenges and we just want to help people to be able to be prepared for when they come,“ Steve said.
“Telling stories is a good way for other people to learn and learn from other people.“
Thanks go to La Trobe Health, whose ongoing support is critical to the calendar and its distribution to Gippsland farmers.
The calendar also serves as a tool for farmers to access support, with contact numbers for health services provided.
If you are in need of assistance for your mental health, talk to your local GP or health professional, or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au.
