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    John Sudholz.

‘Farmer wants a Healthy Life’

Producers of new Wimmera podcast series ‘Farmer Wants a Healthy Life’ has launched with ‘glowing audience reviews’.

A project of West Wimmera Health Service’s health promotion team, the podcast is the result of a desire to work with farmers and people living in rural communities, and to start a conversation about a variety of health and wellbeing issues.

People in the west Wimmera community generated the idea for the podcast series.

The series includes stories from people who understand farming life and have a story to tell. 



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Subjects range from new and experienced farmers to rural people and doctors.

The first eight episodes cover discussions surrounding depression and mental-health tips, Ross River fever, prostate cancer and the successful Rural Outreach Program.

During the podcast’s virtual launch, people had a preview of an episode featuring former footballer  John ‘Jumbo’ Sudholz, who shares his struggle with depression on returning to the farm after his AFL career. 

Mr Sudholz talks candidly about the hard times he faced, and how he has learned to live with depression.

Wimmera identity and mountain climber Brigitte Muir hosts the podcast series.

“I have ended up loving the people I talked to,” Ms Muir said during the podcast launch. 

Health promotion manager Dorothy McLaren said the group wanted each of the episodes to be conversation starters.

“The stories are about looking after you, while on the farm, and how the choices you make can change your life,” she said.

“Listeners get to hear from those who have done it, and we hope that this can be the start of a whole conversation for people to focus on their own health and wellbeing.

“We also want to hear from you. Once you’ve listened to an episode, please jump onto our dedicated social pages to share how you live a healthy farming life, and any questions the series raises for you.

“Farmer Wants a Healthy Life is about hearing stories and sharing your own. Listening and mulling over how to live a healthy farming life.”

The podcast program involved the collaboration and support of steering committee members with representatives from Grain Producers Australia; Grains Research and Development Corporation; National Centre for Farmer Health; Nhill and District Young Farmers; Rural Outreach Program; Southern Mallee Landcare Network; Victorian Farmers Federation; West Wimmera Health Service’s Allied Health Department; and Wimmera Hearing Society.

People can listen to Farmer Wants a Healthy Life from various podcast sites.

Organisers have encouraged people to share stories, experiences, thoughts and ideas on Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/fwahl or Twitter account twitter.com/_FWAHL.

• Anyone experiencing mental-health issues can call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, Lifeline, 131 114, or Kids Helpline, 1800 551 800.

The entire June 16, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!