187: Why Melissa Duniam turned to horses after a life-changing farm accident

08/13/23 • 58 min

Melissa Duniam lives on the far north west coast of Tasmania and has spent the past 20 years in the dairy industry. When she was 18, she fell pregnant with her first daughter and soon after, became a single mum after her relationship ended. Melissa once vowed she'd never marry a dairy farmer, but that's exactly what she went on to do a couple of years later after falling in love with her now husband. She had two more daughters, and navigated some intense highs and lows during early motherhood. Horses have always helped Melissa through the toughest moments of her life, and her biggest battle came in October 2016 after she was seriously injured in a side-side-by side accident on the farm. Physically and emotionally it's been an ordeal, with Melissa struggling with PTSD for a long time after the accident. That set her on a huge personal development journey where she leaned into her horses, and now helps others through her business, Leading Rein. Melissa is flying the Tassie flag this year as the state winner of the AgriFutures Rural women's award. This is her story.
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BONUS: Simone Heng on loneliness & the five types of human connection we all need

This week is Australia's first ever Loneliness Awareness Week. It's a national epidemic and through Motherland's work, we know there are so many rural mums out there who are struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Simone Heng is a human connection expert. Her new book, Loneliness- Let's talk about it, details her personal struggles with loneliness, but it's also an incredible guide on how we can kick loneliness to the curb for the sake of our health and our families. Simone grew up in Australia and has since lived all over the world. In 2013, one phone call changed her life. Her mum had a severe stroke which left her paralysed and Simone dropped everything to be by her side and spent the next six months of her life cleaning her mother's house (her mum has hoarding disorder). Simone was isolated from the outside world and experienced the worst loneliness of her life, which set her on her current path of helping others. In our chat, we get stuck into the hard stuff... and Simone shares the FIVE types of human connection we all need in our lives.
Connect with Simone here https://simoneheng.com/

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188: The heart wrenching decision Sarra Riddick had to make to save one of her twins

Sarra Riddick and her partner tried to have a baby for three and a half years, before she finally fell pregnant with their twin boys, Heath and Hunter, through IVF. But after a devastating 20-week scan, Sarra and Jarrad had to make the toughest decision of their lives, terminating one of the twins, to give the other the best possible chance of survival. Sarra had to go through an unimaginable emotional rollercoaster after birthing her boys, experiencing joy after welcoming Hunter, who was rushed to NICU, while at the same time, mourning Heath who was stillborn. Living on a farm a couple of hours from Perth, Sarra then spent nearly four months away from the farm in hospital until she could finally bring Hunter home. Sarra wants her grief to have purpose, as she puts it. She wants to help other families feel less alone, and she wants you to know that her story, although heartbreaking, does have a silver lining, including her miracle baby Ollie. This is her story.
Make your own MathsOnline success story. From increased confidence to improved grades, parents like Lisa and Mark have seen it all. Try MathsOnline for free at www.mathsonline.com.au and experience the difference it can make.

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