Stephen Parry is a 3rd generation mixed crop and sheep farmer from Coonooer West located 20km north of St Arnaud.

In this raw episode Steve gets brutally honest about the struggles of agriculture, buying land back from the bank, juggling debt and utilising off farm income to sustain finances during the 2000s drought.

On the side Steve is a musician and played drums on the ‘Big Yellow Taxi Parody’ which was a not-for-profit educational video aimed to raise awareness of the 500KV VNI-WEST overhead transmissions lines. Which in its infant planning stages were cast over the Phillips family farm.

Steve is also our host, Eleanor’s father and we thank Steve for being the first guinea pig on the podcast recorded back in August 2024.

So sit back, grab a cool drink and enjoy this little raw BONUS conversation!

Links:

Stay up to date with relevant and current information on

Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Protection Association Inc.

Website: https://www.wmeap.com/

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CntNJ6n8j/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Big Yellow Taxi Parody Video:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DEdiwdqiSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyINKHVOIOx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1G9ugYtHg2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ben Duxson is a 6th generation farmer from the small community of Kanya, located 250kms North West of Melbourne.

Ben and his multigenerational family sheep farming enterprise are currently facing direct impact of the 500KV VNI-West overhead proposed transmission lines.

Ben has been a huge advocate alongside the Wallaloo-Gre Gre group. More recently in March 2025 Ben hosted a community meeting in his shearing shed in Kanya with special guests Nationals Mallee MP Anne Webster, Federal Shadow Minister for Energy Ted O’Brien MP and Victorian Shadow Minister for Energy David Davis.

Link to video: https://www.instagram.com/annewebster4mallee/reel/DH_6DJCNthx/

Since this podcast was recorded in August 2024 there has been a plethora of new information released. The discussion had in this podcast is still unfolding and relevant to today’s events.

Check out Ben’s story and let us know what you think in the comments below.

“As the government says themselves….. there’s no transition without transmission” - Ben Duxson Hey Farmer Farmer Podcast.

Ross is a 5th generation farmer from the surrounding community of Warracknabeal, located 330kms northwest of Melbourne. Ross has been the director of ABB Grains Ltd and Deputy Chairman on the GRDC Grains Research and Development Corporation. Ross is currently facing the issues surrounding the ‘Warracknabeal Energy Park’ which includes wind turbines and a bordering Battery Energy Storage System [BESS].

Since this podcast interview Ross has become president of the newly formed group ‘Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Protection Association’, which aims to distribute facts about wind farm and proposed transmission build, website coming soon.

This is another great episode which looks at the broader issues surrounding renewable energy and the ripple effects it will have into our communities future! Tune in and feel free to let us know what you think!