Celina Pellett thriving as a dairy farmer after breaking back

Celina Pellett was once a ballerina performing in the United States. But after breaking her back she pivoted to dairy farming in NSW.

Celina Pellett was an award winning ballerina.

She once was Celina the ballerina — now she’s Pellett the primary producer.

Celina Pellett’s extraordinary career has pirouetted from dance to dairy in the space of a decade, with some twists and turns worthy of light-footed luminary Margot Fonteyn.

Originally from New Zealand, Ms Pellett started ballet classes from a young age, sparking a passion that endured into adulthood.

“I studied to be a dance teacher but I also was in heaps of ballet and dance competitions. I just loved it,” Ms Pellett said.

Ms Pellett’s dynamic dance routines took her to the United States, where she represented Australia in an international competition, taking out several medals in the process.

Not content with dance, she also was a keen underwater hockey player — participating at several national competitions in the amphibious sport.

But in February 2018, tragedy struck.

“I broke my back — which pretty much spelled the end of dancing and hockey,” she said.

Following many months of rehabilitation, there were several job changes to adjust to her new physical limitations that didn’t stick.

NSW farmer Celina Pellett on her Barrington farm.

Then, with coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021, one of the few job opportunities in her part of central NSW were dairy related.

“I thought it was worth having a go. I didn’t go into it with big expectations, but I’ve enjoyed it so much,” she said.

Not only has she enjoyed dairy, Ms Pellett has become an award winner in the field, just like her previous career.

Last year, the NSW deputy premier presented her with the 2023 Women in Trades for her outstanding work completing a Certificate III in Agriculture (Dairy Production)

“My advice to anyone interested in dairy is that it’s so rewarding,” she said. “If you like the outdoors and working with animals, there are some great jobs out there.”