‘I need to put my own oxygen mask on’

By Corinna Boldiston

UNTIL recently, fourth-generation dairy farmer Ross Anderson seized opportunities as they arose, rather than seeking them.

As a young adult he grasped the chance to move from the temperate climate of Denison in Gippsland, southern Victoria, to work as a qualified builder – and play footy – on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
The adventure rolled into 10 years away from the Macalister Irrigation District in Victoria, with Ross plying his building trade in London and Perth until 2006.

“I came home when I was 30 to farm with my folks because I was mature enough to give it a go,” he said.

Now aged 45, Ross farms 300ha and milks 500 cows with his parents Graeme and Chris, and partner Jenni. Their rotary dairy has a workforce of seven, with the Andersons in the transition phase of farm succession.

“I love the dairy industry; it’s challenging and rewarding. I love being on the land with animals and producing food,” Ross said.

Since his homecoming in 2006, Ross “didn’t shy away” when industry peers nudged him to apply for leadership roles and development opportunities.

He served five years on the GippsDairy board, and six years (three as chair) on Herd Improvement Co-operative Australia (HICO); and is an alumnus of the 2020-21 Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP), sponsored by Gardiner Dairy Foundation.

The 15-month ARLP is a flagship leadership development course, which includes four challenged-based sessions throughout Australia and overseas.

Despite the challenges created by COVID, he was grateful for the overall ARLP experience and the valuable addition of ongoing personal mentoring.

“Even though some of our course sessions were via Zoom because of COVID, the ARLP taught me the power of experiential learning; it kept pushing me out of my comfort zone,” he said. 

“I think my strengths are I’m authentic and prepared to be vulnerable; I’m not one to shy away from tough situations, and I’m prepared to wear my heart on my sleeve.

“One of my biggest takeaways during the one-on-one coaching sessions during the ARLP was understanding that I need to put my own oxygen mask on before I can help anyone else with theirs.

“I had been spreading myself too thin and not hitting the mark anywhere, so I stepped aside from GippsDairy and HICO to focus on my wellbeing and my relationship with my children.”

Applications for ARLP Course 30 are open until July 31 at rural-leaders.org.au/programs/australian-rural-leadership-program/