Motherland Australia

Nicole Sandland was about to move to Germany to further pursue her professional dancing career when she fell in love with a bloke from the land. She went away for three months but came home, and what happened next was a whirlwind romance. Nicole and Luke packed up their life in Adelaide and moved to Jamestown in regional South Australia, near Luke’s family farm. The pair opened the town’s first gym, and then moved onto a property out of town, and then COVID hit. But unlike a lot of people, Nic really enjoyed the forced lockdown, because she’s not very good at slowing down and not doing things, and she’ll be the first to admit it. Nic is a mum to 18-month-old Seb, a trainer at Kate Ivey Fitness, and the founder, co-director and PT at her own gym, NicFit. In this very honest episode of Motherland, Nic joins me to discuss the ‘trap’ of trying to do it all, what happens when your husband quits farming to join your business, and the realities of being a mum who wants to work, but also wants nothing more than to be with her kids. If you’re also a mum who’s wearing too many hats and who's struggling with the mental load, you need to listen to this very honest conversation. This is Nicole’s story. The ICPA is here to help you and your children thrive. Through their support, they can connect you with other families who understand your challenges, and can provide you with access to invaluable tools and resources to support your children’s learning at all ages and stages. Head to icpa.com.au — and  join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve. https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Felicity Burton, a keen horsewoman from the age of five, is an exceptional camp drafter, and always knew she wanted a career on the land. And life on the land with kids has certainly had its ups and downs. Felicity was in the early stages of her second pregnancy, with twins, when she took her 20-month-old son Kory on a quad bike ride. They’d fed the horses. Put the dogs away. And we’re just moving a few sheep into the next paddock when they had an accident. With broken ribs and a shattered collarbone, Felicity was driven to hospital while Kory was flown to Brisbane with head injuries. He was placed in an induced coma and took weeks to wake up from it. At such a young age he had to learn to walk, talk and eat again. During their time in Brisbane, the Burton’s stayed at Ronald McDonald house, and that’s where Felicity got an idea. Along with two of her friends, she co-founded the Common Ground Foundation, providing low-cost accommodation for rural families whose loved ones are in hospital. This is her story. Felicity and Karl now have a paddock to plate arm of their business and distribute their beef across the country. To order, contact them HERE or phone 0431039809. Our charity partner the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, or ICPA have been advocating for families just like yours for 54 years. ICPA’s volunteers work hard to make sure that every child, no matter how far they live from the city, gets the best possible start in their education journey and that rural and remote students are not left behind.Head to icpa.com.au — join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve.https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

What’s it like seeing someone else grow your baby? That’s a question I couldn’t help asking today’s incredible guest Jade Cooper. As you're about to hear, Jade hasn’t had the easiest of lives, but that hasn’t stopped her from going after the things that matter. Jade was just 18 months old when a lump was discovered on her kidney. The next three years involved countless trips to Brisbane for chemotherapy, radiation and checkups. Jade went into remission at just three years old, and her childhood is clouded with the memory of knowing she would never be able to have kids, but she wanted to defy the odds. When Jade met her husband, they started trying immediately, knowing it would take some time. Then they were hit with unthinkable news. So, they thought they’d try their hand at foster care...but the blows kept coming. For Jade, this was rock bottom. But then a woman messaged her, offering to be her surrogate. Jade’s story is one of hope and never giving up on your dreams, no matter what is thrown your way. It also sheds light on what it’s like going through IVF, surrogacy and egg and sperm donors when you live rurally. This is Jade Cooper’s story.Our charity partner the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, or ICPA have been advocating for families just like yours for 54 years. Whether you have little ones looking to access early education, primary kids or those looking to access high school or embark on further studies or training, they care. Head to icpa.com.au — and join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve.https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Nicole Seekamp always knew she wanted to be a basketball player. But a goat farmer? Well, that wasn’t part of her plan. When she was 14, she left her hometown of Renmark in South Australia and moved across the country to Canberra and the Australian Institute of Sport. Over the next 20 years, she played for not only our national team, the Opals, at the Commonwealth Games, but all over the world. By 2019 she was on track for her first Olympics.  But as the 2020 season drew to a close, Nicole knew she wouldn’t be returning to basketball, because she’d fallen in love with a Goat Farmer named Ross from Wilcannia. Ending her basketball career also meant walking away from a huge part of her life. But knew heart wasn’t in it anymore, and she also knew she wanted a new life with Ross. So what was it like swapping basketball courts and cheering crowds, for paddocks of red dirt and goats? And how have the first three years of Motherhood been with two under two? This is Nicole's story. If you’re sick of miscommunication and poor record keeping on your farm, Mobble is the livestock farm management app to improve communication, transparency, and productivity on your property. Try it FREE for 21 days at Mobble.io, and get everyone on the same page. Mention Motherland for 20% off all subscriptions! https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia