284: Amanda Ferrari & the Boarding School Journey That Changed Everything

Whitney Spicer always dreamed of becoming a mum. What she didn’t expect was that a few sample pots of Bunnings paint would change the course of her life. While raising her babies, Whitney picked up a paintbrush again — and it grew into a thriving art career that now helps support her family. But behind the success is a huge identity shift: going from stay-at-home to the primary breadwinner, navigating guilt, grief, pressure and the constant juggle between creating and mothering. In this episode, Whitney opens up about her why, the lessons she wants to show her kids, and the courage it takes to back yourself when everything is changing. This is her story. Join Motherland Village in 2026. Limited spots available: motherlandaustralia.com.au/motherland-village/https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Amanda Ferrari grew up in Sydney with no ties to agriculture, yet felt an undeniable pull to the bush. That path took her from nannying and ag college nights, to Warren, Trangie, the cotton industry, and eventually to a life with her husband, Ross. Motherhood began with a shock—discovering she was pregnant with twins during a “friends with benefits” chapter. Premature labour, weeks in hospital, a traumatic birth, and deep loneliness shaped her early years of parenting. Later, the arrival of her son Ollie brought her darkest mental health battle yet. Today, Amanda channels her strength and honesty into supporting rural families through The Boarding School Collective, helping parents and children navigate the distance and grief she knows so well. This is her story.Pregnancy Loss Support: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/ 24/7 Crisis Support: Lifeline 13 11 14  R.M.Williams boots are made to last—strong, dependable, and built for life on the land. For generations, rural mums have trusted RMs for paddock runs, long drives, and moments that matter. Shop now HEREhttps://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

What happens when the life you built falls apart? Sarah Henney moved to Longreach for love, leaving behind her Gold Coast life to build something new. But years of IVF, raising two little boys and feeling the weight of holding everything together slowly began to take a toll…not just on Sarah, but on her marriage. As the isolation deepened and her marriage broke down, Sarah was forced to rebuild. Now, from the coastal town of Yeppoon, she’s raising her boys and running Outback Linen Co, redefining what happiness and home looks like, on her own terms. This is her story. Mental health crisis support: Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14Based in regional NSW, Birdsnest truly understands regional life. Visit their stores in Cooma or Burleigh Heads, or shop online from your kitchen table.  Birdsnest stocks sizes 8–24. Join their supportive ‘wardrobe wingbirds’ on Facebook, Instagram or via their weekly newsletter. Join Motherland Village today: motherlandaustralia.com.au/motherland-villagehttps://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Kelly Johnson lives a purposeful life running a heartfelt food-waste enterprise from her houseboat on the Murray River. But the road here has been anything but smooth. As a mum to identical twins with autism and a youngest son who survived BECAUSE of a medical mistake, Kelly’s early motherhood years were filled with illness, and deep exhaustion… including one incredibly dark moment she’s bravely chosen to share. Through every challenge, Kelly rebuilt, adapted, and found strength. Now, that same determination powers her mission to turn unwanted produce into wholesome meals that give back to farmers. This is her story. This episode briefly discusses mental health and dark thoughts. If you or someone you know needs support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.Birdsnest’s $9.95 Changeroom Upgrade brings the store to you. Get styles delivered, try them on at home stress-free, and only pay for what you keep. With thousands of looks in sizes 8–24, it’s fashion made simple. Explore more at birdsnest.com.au. Have a curious child in Year 3 or 5? Aurora College, NSW’s virtual school for high-potential rural and remote students, offers live, interactive lessons with specialist teachers. Applications for Year 5 (2027) and Year 7 (2027) are open now until 20 Feb 2026. Learn more at aurora.schools.nsw.gov.auhttps://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Demi Crooks always wanted to be a Mum. But she never knew that her journey into Motherhood would be so challenging nor that it would threaten to take her life. After two gruelling rounds of IVF - Demi successfully conceived her first son River.  It was a mentally and physically challenging three years - Demi thought the worst was over but the journey was just beginning. After River was born, Demi developed what Doctors called the ‘worst case of Mastitis they’d seen in 25 years.’ It left her literally fighting for her life for 16 days in hospital as she developed sepsis, had multiple surgeries and a secondary infection of Deep Vein Thrombosis which threatened to clot in her heart. All the while, River’s dad, Aston was learning to bottle feed and settle his three week old boy by himself. To make matters worse it was one of the busiest times in the WA grain farming calendar. It was seeding. This is Demi's story. Birdsnest is based in Cooma, NSW and they’ve helped Aussie women find outfits they love for over 20 years. Enjoy personalised style picks, outfit ideas, and videos. Shop by body shape or style, sizes 8–24, with express delivery and 365-day returns at birdsnest.com.au. https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

When Jenny Lutz became a mum at 22, she had no idea how profoundly her world was about to change. After a traumatic birth and months of sleepless nights, her baby boy Greg cried constantly, struggled to feed, and couldn’t be soothed. Living rurally in Queensland, Jenny faced exhaustion, isolation, and heartbreak, navigating early motherhood with no answers and little support. It wasn’t until Greg was 11 that she finally received the diagnosis she’d spent years searching for: autism. In a time when few in rural Australia even knew what that meant, Jenny’s fierce determination to understand and advocate changed everything. By founding the South Burnett Autism Support Group, she’s spent three decades helping regional families find the understanding and connection she once went without. Her story is one of love, survival, and hope... proof that from the hardest chapters of motherhood can come extraordinary strength and lasting change. Birdsnest is based in Cooma, NSW and they’ve helped Aussie women find outfits they love for over 20 years. Enjoy personalised style picks, outfit ideas, and videos. Shop by body shape or style, sizes 8–24, with express delivery and 365-day returns at birdsnest.com.au. JUCA is the Australian brand delivering chef-crafted, nutritious baby meals right to your door, Australia-wide. Made with 100% whole foods and no nasties, every pouch is bursting with flavour. Created by a Michelin-starred chef using premium local ingredients. Discover real food joy for your little one at juca.au. https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

From a childhood spent building fences and mustering cattle on her family’s remote Northern Territory station, to life in a Swiss city where she could see France from her balcony, Megan Holzwart’s story is one of grit, adventure, and deep reflection on motherhood. After years abroad, she’s now back in the bush, raising two young kids in Katherine and running KICS- the Katherine Isolated Children's Service, a remote, mobile playgroup for socially and geographically isolated children and families. Today, Megan shares her incredible journey - from the challenges of birthing a breech baby in a foreign country, to navigating postpartum anxiety alone during a European lockdown, to rediscovering her roots and redefining what motherhood means on her own terms. This is a story about choosing adventure over comfort and how one woman’s journey from the outback to overseas and back again is supporting the future of rural families in Australia. At KRB, boarding is about balance, excellence in learning, and care that supports every girl’s wellbeing. It’s where potential is realised every day, and where confidence grows. Learn more at www.krb.nsw.edu.au/boardingWith 100% whole foods, no preservatives, no filler fruits, and nothing artificial, JUCA gives babies the chance to explore flavours beyond sweet, setting them up for a lifelong appreciation of healthy, delicious food. Shipping to the doorstops of families Australia-wide, visit juca.au. https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Before she was known as The Jungle Doctor, travelling the world as a wildlife vet, dehorning rhinos in South Africa and fitting elephants with prosthetics, Dr Chloe Buiting was a barefoot kid in the bush on Lord Howe Island. That tiny island sparked her lifelong fascination with the natural world and taught her what it means to belong...to live close to nature and be shaped by it. Today, Chloe is a conservationist and mother of two on Kangaroo Island, splitting her year between global work with Fauna & Flora International and the Earthshot Prize, and hands-on fieldwork across Africa and Asia. She’s dined with David Attenborough, darted rhinos from helicopters, and is raising her children between continents. Behind the adventure is a story about belonging — building a home while constantly on the move, finding community across the world, and reconciling motherhood with a calling that takes her to the wildest corners of the planet. This is Dr Chloe Buiting’s remarkable story.Lifeline: 13 11 14 | PANDA support line: 1800 595 212 | Gidget Foundation From the bush to the bay, KRB Boarding offers girls the best of both worlds: a strong education, care for their wellbeing, and a place that feels like home by the harbour. That peace of mind is what families have trusted at KRB since 1882. Visit  www.krb.nsw.edu.au/boardingJUCA is the Australian company redefining how we feed our little ones. Created by a Michelin-starred chef using premium local ingredients, JUCA offers 100% whole food baby meals with no preservatives or fillers. Delivered Australia-wide, they inspire flavourful, adventurous eating from the very first bite. Head to juca.auhttps://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Once upon a time, in the small farming town of Finley in southern New South Wales, there was a boy who spent his afternoons chasing footies across dusty paddocks and helping his parents on the land. That boy grew up to be one of the greatest AFL forwards the game has ever seen. Today, I chat with three-time premiership player, father of three and Geelong legend, Tom Hawkins. As you’ll hear, for Tom, life was never just about football. It was about family. About home. About the kind of hard work that doesn’t end when the whistle blows. After 17 seasons, in 2024, Tom retired from professional AFL. He traded the stadium lights for sunrises over the paddocks - raising three kids with his wife Emma, catching calves instead of taking marks, and rediscovering what it means to be grounded.  These days, he’s building a new chapter with Nutrien Ag Solutions, working closely with farmers across Victoria while running a small cattle property of his own.In this rare conversation, Tom opens up about it all. The highs and lows of his career, the grief of losing his mum too young, the guilt that comes with missing moments as a dad, and the quiet joy of finding purpose again…this time, on the land.As we wrap up this season of Father Land, thanks to our sponsor, Nutrien Ag Solutions, for backing the stories that matter. From field days to community grants, Nutrien proudly supports rural Australia. Drop into your local branch or visit nutrienagsolutions.com.au/find-a-branch to see what’s happening near you. https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Claire Brett’s story begins in a country pub on the NSW/QLD border — a lively, dusty place where everyone knew your name. But after losing her dad at just five, grief became a quiet thread through her life. Years later, on a farm in Kentucky, NSW, Claire and her husband Jake built a life together and welcomed their first child... until pregnancy loss changed everything. While trying for her second baby, Claire endured five miscarriages in a row, each one testing her strength, faith, and identity. In this episode, she opens up about love, loss, and finding meaning again. Through her work with Pink Elephants and Lighting the Way, she now helps support rural and regional women navigating miscarriage and pregnancy after loss. October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, and Claire's story is one of the heartbreak and hope that so many rural women experience. Support: www.pinkelephants.org.auRed Nose Grief & Loss Support 24/7 support line: 1300 308 307 At Kincoppal-Rose Bay, boarding means belonging, friendship, and support — everything a daughter needs to feel at home while striving for her best. That’s the balance nurtured since 1882. See the boarding experience firsthand at www.krb.nsw.edu.au/boardingJUCA is the Australian company changing the face of pouch baby meals. JUCA ships directly to families across Australia, reaching even the most remote tiny taste buds. Their savoury baby meal range is crafted by a Michelin-starred chef using premium local Australian ingredients. Explore the range at juca.au.https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia