Episode 90. Gab Toscan & Michael Dennis - Part 1
More Than Milk
Gab Toscan and Michael Dennis from Breakwater Insurance are working closely with dairy farmers and share what they’ve learned from supporting businesses through challenging moments — and why dairy insurance isn’t always as simple as a set-and-forget farm pack. The conversation introduces Dairy Protect, a dairy-specific approach to insurance advice, and explores the difference between general and personalised advice, along with the questions worth asking so you genuinely understand your cover. The conversation continues in Part 2 with a deeper dive into insurable risks within a dairy...
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Rachel Nicholson: Mid-North Coast NSW
More Than Milk
In this episode of the More than Milk podcast, Chloe sits down with Rachel Nicholson, a dairy farmer based on Jones Island on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Rachel shares her experience of farming on a floodplain, including the impact of major flood events in 2021 and again in 2025, and what those seasons revealed about resilience, risk, and the strength of the dairy community. She reflects on how community support became critical to keeping their business going, with farmers and industry stepping in when it mattered most. This conversation also explores capacity and mental load...
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Episode 88. Joe Jacobs - Gippsland
More Than Milk
Joe Jacobs is the Research Director for Animal Production with Agriculture Victoria, based at the Ellinbank Smart Farm. In this chat Joe shares his incredible journey as a scientist, having worked in multiple dairying regions before making the move to Gippsland. He emphasizes the importance of practical, on farm research and the need for translating scientific findings into actionable insights for farmers, but also understands the need for collaborating with farmers and industry partners to ensure the research is relevant, beneficial and answering the right questions. In the spirit of...
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Episode 87. Louise Sundermann - National
More Than Milk
Louise Sundermann is the policy lead for animal health and welfare at Dairy Australia. After growing up on a dairy farm in Gippsland, her passion for animals led her to work with Dairy Australia in a number of roles, with her current focus the Calfways Pathway for Dairy Beef in the search for practical solutions to surplus calves. In this chat she shares the complexities of animal welfare and policy development, as well as maintaining social licence and the evolving market dynamics for dairy beef. And whilst there isn’t a one size fits all solution, just yet, her message is clear, watch this...
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Episode 86. Deanne Kennedy - Gippsland
More Than Milk
Deanne Kennedy had a background in finance and local government, before becoming a dairy farmer’s wife, but soon found herself putting the bookkeeping and organisational skills to work, managing the office for a farm consultant and milk processor, before founding Jaydee Events With a passion for event management and people, she shares how they created Cows Create Careers which has grown into one of the most successful school-based initiatives over the last 21 years. And while she’s quick to acknowledge the many people and supporters, she certainly has a heart that is bigger than the...
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Episode 85. Troy Rossborough - Northern Victoria
More Than Milk
Troy Rossborough grew up in suburban Melbourne before a childhood love of the outdoors led him into agricultural studies and a traineeship in dairy. Over the next 25 years, he worked across Northern Victoria and Gippsland, experiencing everything from small family farms to large-scale operations, and navigating the many highs and lows of the industry along the way. In our chat, Troy reflects on the lessons, the mentors, and the turning points that shaped his career, and why he’s now found a role as a tanker driver that brings both balance and connection to the industry that he loves. ...
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Episode 84. Amy Cosby - Gippsland
More Than Milk
Amy Cosby, a dairy farmer and agricultural researcher, discussed her journey into dairy farming, her academic career, and her passion for agricultural education. She shares her and her husband's long-term goal of farm ownership, the challenges they faced securing financing, and the eventual purchase of their farm in South Gippsland in 2018. Amy explained how she balanced her on-farm responsibilities with a demanding remote career as a research director for Central Queensland University. We also discuss the critical need to attract young people to agriculture through sustained, engaging...
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Episode 83. Warren Davies - Northern Victoria
More Than Milk
Warren Davies is the Unbreakable Farmer, who spends his days now as a mental health advocate and speaker, working across the country with a diverse mix of communities and organsiations, but at his heart, he’s still a dairy farmer. In this chat he shares how he purchased his own farm next to his parents with ambitions to grow. He was certainly thrown some curveballs by mother nature, and it was during the drought that they shut the gate metaphorically and physically on that farm. We also explore his work now within the mental health space and his observations of rural communities especially...
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Episode 82. Billy Buckingham - South West Victoria
More Than Milk
Billy Buckingham has returned home to his family farm, with a real passion to continue the legacy his grandparents started. In this chat he shares the current challenges of the drought and how he is able to take advantage of the dry season preparations his family invested in years ago. He also shares the importance of community and networking in the Young Dairy Network, and how these connections have not only helped with on farm investments but are so beneficial for mental health especially during tough times. TOPICS WE COVER Career Journey and Background Family Farm History and Legacy...
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Episode 81. Tori Brindle Mansell - South Coast NSW
More Than Milk
Tori Brindle Mansell grew up in suburban Sydney, but always had a passion for agriculture, turning a summer placement at Uni into a successful career in dairy. In this chat she shares her love for robotic farming systems, how she started with calf rearing which has since developed into a manager role. We chat about all things robots, and the flexibility it’s given her to work whilst her daughter without access to childcare. She is also the current YDN leader for the south coast and gives an insight into why the role is so important, for not only her development but also the future of...
info_outlinePaul Roderick grew up surrounded by dairy and always knew he would return to his family farm which has gone through plenty of changes across the generations. In this week's episode chat he shares about the evolution of the family farm, we chat about grazing grass in the subtropics and the challenges facing not only Queensland dairy but the industry as a whole and he shares why he is passionate about being involved within industry, recently becoming Chair of the Dairy Australia Board.
GROUNDS FOR GROWTH CONFERNCE 2025
Dairy Australia is hosting a soil and pasture biodiversity event in Warrnambool on 4-6 March 2025. A first-ever for the Australian dairy industry, Grounds for Growth will support farmers with adopting multi-species pastures and other management practices. The three-day event focuses on the benefits, challenges and practical dairy farmer experiences of adopting soil and pasture systems to improve soil health and function. It will include a strong panel of expert speakers from Australia and internationally, including regenerative agriculture specialist from Massey University in NZ, Professor Danny Donaghy, and Irish expert on multispecies planting Dr John Finn from Teagsac.
Australian farmers who are successfully using biodiverse practices on farm will also present at the event, and there will be in-person and virtual farm tours for attendees. By attending the event, dairy farmers will be better equipped to make informed decisions about the right soil and pasture systems for their individual farming needs.
Registration is open and available via the link https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/soils-and-water/soil-management-and-fertility/grounds-for-growth
If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.