Marlo dairy farmer Chris Kane on depression, mental health and mateship

Marlo dairy farmer Chris Kane shares his story of depression, diagnosis and recovery to start mental health conversations.

Marlo dairy farmer Chris Kane sees a bright future milking cows in East Gippsland, but not long ago the father of two had a much darker outlook on life.

Chris, 36, this year moved his family back to the coastal region where he grew up, after spending five years managing a corporate dairy operation at Labertouche.

At the age of 28, he was diagnosed with depression and milking cows was his sole reason to get up in the morning.

Marlo dairy farmer Chris Kane with his partner, Alex Furness, and their children, Veyda, 7, and Ace, 18 months. Chris is one of 12 dairy farmers featured in Gippsland Jersey’s 2023 “Farming Conversations” calendar. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve had times in my life when it’s been very dark,” Chris said. “I went and saw professionals and they basically said to me if you can get out of bed, milk the cows, feed the calves, then go back to bed, you’ve done well for the day, and it’s a tick.

“You can keep going.”

Medication, advice from experts and support from friends and family helped him improve his mental health, and he hoped sharing his story would prompt other farmers who were suffering in silence to seek out help.

“Being a farmer and being a guy, (we) have this stigma that we are all pretty tough, and sometimes you’re not,” he said.

“There is a lot that happens in this industry that is out of our hands. You need to talk to people.

“It’s the mateship that keeps me being able to shift gears and keep going.”

He said leaving the corporate dairy to return to a sharefarm, where he now milks a herd of 340, was another boost to his mental wellbeing.

“The blokes around here come and give me a hand moving and sorting cattle and I help them in return,” he said.

“We’re in an environment where you can go to the beach, kids can ride their bikes around the town. The change in the kids has been phenomenal.”

Chris said there were still circumstances that were difficult to overcome.

“Just recently (November 2022) when the floods came and I had to watch all my hard work go underwater, that was bloody tough,” he said.

Chris is one of 12 Gippsland dairy farmers who have shared their stories as part of Gippsland Jersey’s 2023 “Farming Conversations” calendar, which launched Thursday and will be distributed free to dairy farmers across Victoria on milk tankers from the major processors.

Gippsland Jersey’s Farming Conversations 2023 calendar. Picture: Supplied

Gippsland Jersey co-founder Sallie Jones is the driving force behind the calendar, which she first launched in 2018.

“I remember when I did the first calendar five years ago, mental health was like a dirty, little, secret that not many were comfortable talking about,” Sallie said.

“One of Gippsland Jersey’s business pillars is better rural wellness. This is because, in 2016, my precious dad became a suicide statistic; 8.6 Australians die every day by suicide.

“When my dad was battling depression, I remember Googling, trying to find a farm stay where he could go to get help. When people are in mental distress, it is a challenging time for everyone involved.

“Many of the stories in this calendar talk about how the most simplistic act of someone showing up for them when things are hard was the best medicine. Don’t hide behind a text message; make an effort and knock on someone’s door, look that person in the eye and really ask them how they’re going.”

Production of the calendar is supported by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, East Gippsland Community Foundation, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Orbost Regional Health.