Mary - agroecologist/viticulturist advisor, Crafers West SA

My picture of the struggle in farmer mental health is:

Some of the glimmer/joyful moments that reflect farmer mental health for me:

The satisfaction of growing a community of like-minded EcoGrowers that creates resilience in both people and the environment. Working in harmony with nature provides much needed soul food and nourishment each day. We can learn many valuable insights by observing and working with the intelligence of nature.

A little more about Mary:

Mary is the Managing Director of Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd which offers a broad range of agribusiness and agroecological consulting services throughout Australia and overseas. She is the founder and manager of the National EcoVineyards program. Mary’s leadership and excellence in science have been acknowledged as a winner of the 2023 SA Environment Awards, Gourmet Traveller WINE Len Evans Award for Leadership, The Australian inaugural list of 100 Green Power Players, as a Bob Hawke Landcare Award Finalist, RIRDC Rural Women’s Award National winner, an inductee on Emerald Grain’s list of 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness, Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame, and as a participant in the National Farmers’ Federation inaugural Diversity in Agriculture Leadership program.