Big Gippsland Jersey Milk Off shines light on mental health

AFTER the inaugural competition’s success last year, Farm World will again play host to the Big Gippsland Jersey Milk Off.

Down to it: Steve Ronalds and Sallie Jones, both founders of Gippsland Jersey, prepare for the Big Gippsland Jersey Milk Off at Farm World. Photo: Dannika Bonser

AFTER the inaugural competition’s success last year, Farm World will again play host to the Big Gippsland Jersey Milk Off.

The competition will be full of all the same fun and hilarity as last year, but will also shine a light on mental health in rural Gippsland, through Gippsland Jersey’s calendar project.

“Gippsland Jersey has gathered 12 stories of Gippsland dairy farmers who’ve been very brave in putting their hand up to tell their mental health story,” said Sallie Jones, from Gippsland Jersey.

These stories are the foundation of a new calendar that will be launched at this year’s Farm World.

“The calendar’s aim is to destigmatise mental health in rural Gippsland, and to help promote the services available to farmers at Farm World,” Sallie said.

Unfortunately, Sallie knows first hand the effect mental illness has on farmers.

“The calendar is a very special and personal project for me,” she said.

“My dad took his life by suicide two years ago.”

The calendar will be ­officially launched on April 12, the first day of Farm World, and what would have been Sallie’s dad’s birthday.

A wonderful display will be set up alongside the Big Gippsland Jersey Milk Off dedicated to the brave farmers who participated in the project, featuring each of their stories and pictures.

This potentially life-saving project will not be confined to the four days of Farm World either.

“Fourteen hundred calendars will be distributed via tanker drop to every dairy farmer in Gippsland,” Sallie said.

“The calendar will include the help numbers of health service providers.”

The 12 farmers will also be there to launch the Milk Off at 10.30 on the Thursday of Farm World.

“The Milk Off is a lot of fun, with a bit of theatrical entertainment and friendly rivalry amongst all who compete,” Sallie said.

“This year we will have media versus media, politicians v politicians, women in ag v men in ag, bankers v bankers and foodie vs baristas.”

The rules of the competition are simple: One Hand — One Teat — One minute. Extract the most milk from the Jersey cow and you win.

The person crowned champion will receive the Milk Off trophy and ultimate bragging rights.

All of the Milk Off action will be held under the historic rotunda across the four days of Farm World.