After three-and-a-half decades of farming, Minimay’s Sam Shepherd was ready for a change.

Mr Shepherd had spent most of his life toiling in tractor cabs and woolsheds, but was surprised to find a new role as a Grampians Health Edenhope hotel services assistant more physically demanding.

“I met a lot of magnificent people in the farming industry, but I was ready to try something new,” he said.

“I probably work harder in here – you’re always on your feet and only sit down when it’s smoko.

“Getting up at 5.30am has been the hardest bit; people think farmers get up early but I never went crutching at 5.30am.” Mr Shepherd said the social side of his new role, which includes delivering meals and cleaning residents’ rooms, was most rewarding.

“Someone said to me, and it’s so true, you can make this job as happy as you want it to be,” he said.

“I’m not obligated to talk to people, but it makes it enjoyable, getting residents’ stories and building rapport.”

It was only through sharing stories that Mr Shepherd discovered personal connections with many of the residents.

“I grew up in Adelaide but have been around here most of my life, mainly at Minimay,” he said.

“There’s a lady in here that used to drive me to Scouts when I was 11 years old and I shore alpacas for one of the other guys.”

Mr Shepherd can now be found moving between Grampians Health Edenhope’s acute ward and Lakeside Living care facility, with plans to work in the kitchen.

And although he said he ‘doesn’t miss any of it’, Mr Shepherd still enjoys a piece of farm life.

“We’ve got 17 acres so I’m lamb-marking and feeding four pet lambs at the moment,” he said.

“By the time you do a bit of wood and get the dogs and sheep sorted, that keeps me busy enough.”

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