Letters From Home

Kaitie Nash – The Life She Never Planned
Most people know Kaitie Nash as ‘First Time Farmer’ - the funny, warm and wonderfully unfiltered woman sharing the realities of learning to farm alongside her husband Will. But farming wasn't part of Kaitie's original plan. A one-way ticket from Perth to Darwin was supposed to be a three-month adventure. Instead, shemet Will, stayed for eleven years and eventually found herself moving with two small children to his family's farm in NSW - right in the middle of drought.
In this episode of Letters from Home, Kaitie and Amanda talk about finding your place in a rural community, raising country kids and learning to appreciate the little things.
They also explore a new chapter for Kaitie's family: boarding school.As a mum who never boarded herself, Kaitie shares openly about her early reservations, why Sydney initially felt simply too far away, and how attending a Boarding School Collective Expo changed her perspective completely.She also talks about returning to an Expo with her eldest son and allowing him to begin exploringschools for himself - footy merch’ and all.
Kaitie and Amanda discuss:
* Kaitie's life before farming and meeting Will in Darwin
* Moving to the family farm during drought
* Finding friendship and belonging in a new rural community
* Why she created ‘First Time Farmer’
* Raising two boys in the country
* The impact of distance on opportunities for rural children
* Beginning the boarding school research journey
* Why meeting schools face-to-face changed her thinking
* Giving children a voice in choosing their school
* Her experience following her diagnosis with FND
* The values she hopes her boys carry into adulthood
Find Kaitie online
Visit her online The First Time Farmer https://thefirsttimefarmer.com.au/
Follow Kaitie on Instagram: @kaitie_nash
Australian Rural & Remote Boarding School Family Survey
If you're considering boarding school, currently have children boarding, or have already
completed the journey, we'd love to hear from you.
The survey is designed to capture the real experiences of rural, regional and remote families -
from researching schools and preparing children for boarding through to the challenges,
opportunities and unexpected positives along the way.
Coming up with The Boarding School Collective
Our final two events for 2026 are the Charleville Pop-up on 18–19 October and Mount Isa Pop-up
on 30 November.
Explore upcoming events and real

What happens when a young woman from the Gold Coast discovers her purpose in the heart of rural Australia?
In this episode of Letters from Home, Amanda Ferrari sits down with teacher, ICPA advocate and researcher Hannah Calcino, whose journey from city life to Winton has been shaped by one unwavering belief - that every child deserves equitable access to education, regardless of where they live.
Together they discuss:
Growing up on the Gold Coast before unexpectedly falling in love with rural Australia.
Life as a governess and the lifelong relationships formed with one remote family.
Supporting rural students through the transition to boarding school.
Hannah's Masters research into the social and emotional experiences of rural boarders.
Why belonging is one of the strongest predictors of a successful boarding transition.
The extraordinary commitment of rural teachers and communities.
The volunteer advocacy of ICPA Australia and why it continues to make such a difference for geographically isolated families.

Useful Links
• Queensland ICPA: https://qld.icpa.com.au/
• The Boarding School Collective Mount Isa Expo: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/events/
• The Boarding School Collective: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/

Kate Brow only spent one year boarding at school, but the lessons she learned during that experience continue to influence her life today.
In this episode of Letters from Home, Kate shares how a unique boarding-style year helped build confidence, resilience and lifelong friendships before leading her on an unexpected journey from Geelong to life on a family farm in the Snowy Mountains.
Kate also speaks candidly about the challenges she faced as a new mother in rural Australia, her involvement with the Gidget Foundation, and how finding connection through Motherland Village ultimately led her to become the program's manager.
This is a conversation about belonging, friendship, motherhood, mental health and the power of community.
In This Episode
A unique Year 9 boarding experience that changed Kate's perspective
Building resilience through challenge
The friendships that endure long after school
Falling in love with life on the land
Motherhood and isolation in rural Australia
The Gidget Foundation and supporting maternal mental health
How Motherland Village is connecting rural mothers across Australia
Why connection matters more than ever
Links
Motherland Australia: Motherland Australia
Motherland Village Program: Motherland Village
Kate Brow Instagram: @k8brow
The Gidget Foundation: Gidget Foundation Australia

Can a rural school principal believe deeply in country education while also choosing boarding school for his own children?
This week, Amanda sits down with Brett Wilkie, principal of a small rural primary school in Western Australia, to explore one of the most complex conversations facing rural Australia.
As both an educator and a parent, Brett shares the emotional reality of weighing up educational opportunities, community commitment and family sacrifice. Together they discuss teacher shortages, access to specialist services, the pressure many families feel to justify their choices and why boarding school should never be viewed as disloyalty to a rural community.
This is not a conversation about public versus private education.
It's a conversation about access, equity and the freedom for every family to choose the pathway that's right for their child.
In this episode
• Why two passionate rural educators are considering boarding school for their own children.
• The emotional burden of choosing differently in a small community.
• Teacher shortages and the realities facing regional schools.
• Why access—not loyalty—is at the heart of many educational decisions.
• How boarding school can help families remain living and contributing to rural Australia.
Further Reading
Read Amanda's article:
Are Rural Families Allowed to Choose? - The Boarding School Collective
(The original Mamamia article that sparked this conversation is linked at the end of Amanda's article.)
Connect
Follow The Boarding School Collective for resources, events and conversations supporting rural, regional and remote families considering boarding school.

Growing up in the small Queensland community of Condamine, Maddie Morgan always knew boarding school would be part of her story. What she didn't know was how profoundly those years would shape her future.
Today Maddie is an agribusiness lawyer specialising in succession planning, estate planning and tax structuring. She works closely with farming families across Australia and is passionate about helping agricultural businesses navigate important transitions.
She's also the co-founder of Women in Ag, a thriving network connecting, supporting and inspiring women throughout the agricultural sector.
In this episode Amanda and Maddie discuss:
• Growing up in a tiny rural community
• The transition from a one-teacher primary school to boarding school
• Independence, discipline and confidence
• Lifelong friendships formed through boarding
• University and career pathways
• Agribusiness law and succession planning
• Why country kids often return home
• The story behind Women in Ag
• Advice for young rural women building their futures
Connect with Maddie
Hamilton Locke (Agribusiness Team)
Hamilton Locke
Women in Ag Instagram
@womeninag.au
Follow Letters from Home
Hosted by Amanda Ferrari and proudly produced by The Boarding School Collective, supporting rural, regional and remote families navigating boarding school and educational opportunities across Australia.