‘I always knew I wanted to do it’: Sam Gibson share his life on the land

Sam Gibson hasn’t looked back since moving to a farm in southwest Victoria and starring in a local footy team.

Sam Gibson has been kicking goals on multiple fronts since leaving behind rolling lockdowns of city life in Covid and moving to a farm in southwest Victoria.

He fulfilled a lifetime ambition to be on the land when he married Ivy French during the pandemic and together they made the decision to leave Melbourne where he worked as a plumber.

They set up base on her family’s sheep farm at Glenisla, north of Cavendish.

His next big win was continuing a successful recovery from a shock leukaemia diagnosis in early 2018.

Following treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood and bone marrow cancer, he was back playing in the early rounds of the season.

Sam Gibson, playing for Box Hill, battles with Geelong’s Tom Atkins in a VFL match in 2017. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Gibson had previously played at VFL level with Box Hill and became an obvious recruiting target when he moved to the southwest.

His decision to join Cavendish has been an inspired one.

The club, which has not won a flag since the 1992-93, is playing off in Saturday’s South West District league grand final against Dartmoor.

“My father was off a farm (near Ararat) and I always wanted to move to a farm,” Gibson said.

“I always knew I wanted to do it.

“I always wanted to be a shearer, but I stayed in Melbourne and got a trade.

“It’s been a big change, but it wasn’t too big of a change because I always knew I wanted to move back out to a farm.

“I met the right girl and ended up on this side of the Grampians and not the other.”

Sam and Ivy Gibson with Douglas at their Glenisla farm near Cavendish in southwest Victoria. Picture: Supplied

Ivy works for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Hamilton and plays netball for Cavendish, but her B grade team got knocked out early in the finals.

Her grandfather bought the property they live on nearly 50 years ago.

Sam said a positive mindset had helped him through his leukaemia battles.

“I’m technically in remission and the cancer levels are that minute you can live with it,” he said.

“It’s just something you have to deal with.”

He won the league best and fairest and will be one of Cavendish’s key players in the grand finals.

Montrose player Sam Gibson, centre, made a successful comeback after treatment for leukaemia in 2018. Picture: Chris Eastman

Gibson played a major role in the second semi-final win against Coleraine by booting eight goals in a seven-point win.

“We’ve got some seriously good (players),” he said.

“Credit to (coach Clinton Thomas) and everyone at the club.

“They’ve banded together and got a lot of people coming down to have a crack.

“It’s all clicking really.”

Thomas said his star recruit had adapted to life on the land.

“If he’s not doing farming work he’s got more than enough on the go plumbing,” he said.

“We’re very lucky to have him on-board.”