Salt of the Earth Farm Stories

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In Part A, I sit down with a mate of mine, Dom Shanahan, to hear the story behind the man and the miles.
Dom started with just one truck, and today runs a major livestock transport operation with 35 B-doubles on the road. He takes us through his early days, the risks, the setbacks, and the decisions that shaped his journey from the ground up.
It’s a grounded, honest conversation about building a company, earning your stripes, and what it really takes to keep wheels turning in Australia’s livestock transport game—told with Dom’s trademark humour and straight talk.

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In Part B with Sam Davies, we explore the intersection of agriculture, education, and purpose.
Sam shares how her work with Petaurus Education Group is connecting students with the environment in meaningful, hands-on ways—taking learning beyond the classroom and into wetlands, waterways, and the landscapes that shape rural Australia.
We talk about the power of small moments in education, the resilience of country communities, and what drives Sam to keep giving back to the places that shaped her. Along the way, she reflects on family, influence, and a remarkable early achievement that hints at the leadership path she’s been walking for years.
This is a thoughtful conversation about impact, curiosity, and the quiet power of caring deeply about place and people.

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In Part A, Sam Davies takes us through the twists and turns of her journey—from growing up on a farm in New South Wales, to teaching in some of Australia’s most remote communities, and eventually landing on a station near Hay.
We talk about her early years, what drew her into teaching, and her time with the School of the Air in Katherine—where classrooms look very different and connection means something deeper.
Along the way, Sam shares how she fell in love with Andrew, the realities of running dual-purpose Marinos, and the leap into growing cotton. It’s a conversation about adapting, building a life in the country, and the opportunities that come with saying yes to change.

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We head back to Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers as harvest comes into sharp focus.
Picking season is hectic, fast-paced, and full of decisions — from grape varieties and timing, to the ongoing challenges of smoke taint from bushfires and increasingly unpredictable seasons. Stephen walks us through the shift from hand picking, to mechanical harvesting, and back again, and what those choices mean in the glass.
We also talk fortified wines — world-famous, and sometimes more than a century in the making — including an 1890 Muscat still quietly waiting its moment. Stephen reflects on his father, Bill Chambers, a legend of Australian wine who worked well into his 80s, and why in this business, good things really do come to those who wait.
And yes — Charlie the cockatoo makes a return appearance.

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Today, we’re at Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers — a sixth-generation family winery woven into the fabric of Victoria’s gold country.
These are soils shaped by history: once turned by gold seekers, now nurturing vines, grazing sheep, and generations of stories layered as deep as the roots beneath them.
In Part A, Stephen reflects on the gold days, the pressures of farming through changing seasons, the mishaps that inevitably come with life on the land, and the enduring rhythm that keeps this place moving forward.
We even hear about Hughie the water god — because when you farm, the weather always gets a say.
And just when you think the conversation couldn’t get better, Charlie the cockatoo decides he’s got something to add.
This is a story of land, legacy, and learning as you go — one season at a time.