It is a step forward in her plan to be a sharefarmer one day.
Helena is working as a farm manager on a dairy farm at Jindivick, for Steve and Bec Ronalds.
Helena has been in this role for six months, managing the health, welfare and safety of the cattle and people.
“My role as farm manager means making sure all the animals are happy and healthy, making sure the farm runs smoothly, managing staff and allocating jobs,” she said.
Prior to this, Helena progressed into the role of farm manager on the dairy farm of Trish and Mark Hammond, at Labertouche.
Helena’s pathway into the dairy industry has included an apprenticeship, formal courses and mentoring.
“I grew up on a dairy farm at Loch. Dad was a sharefarmer and I helped him, but I never really understood what was going on,” Helena said.
After finishing Year 12, she gained a dairy apprenticeship role.
“I was a dairy apprentice on the farm of Evan and Sinead de Gooyer, at Korumburra,” Helena said.
“I completed the certificate III and certificate IV in agriculture over two years while I was working with them.”
She then took a break for a couple of years: “I wanted to try a few different things.”
Finding her way back into the dairy industry, Helena started working for Trish and Mark Hammond, at Labertouche, where she studied a number of Dairy Australia’s short courses and was promoted to farm manager.
“Trish offered to mentor me in the role of farm manager,” Helena said.
“They wanted to give me the opportunity to step up to a new chapter, and supported me to learn the new role.
“Trish helped me to develop the interpersonal skills needed for a management role.”
After two-and-a-half years, Helena moved into the farm manager role on the Ronald’s farm at Jindivick at the start of this year.
Her recent purchase of 13 in-calf Jersey cows at a dispersal sale, and six in-calf Jersey heifers in a private sale, will be added to the Ronald’s herd on the farm Helena manages at Jindivick.
By the end of October, with most of the cows and heifers calving down to sexed semen, Helena will effectively have doubled her herd equity.
“I want to be a sharefarmer one day,” Helena said.
“Sharefarming is attractive to me, because I can be my own boss.
“I’m starting off by getting and growing my milking herd now.”
Helena’s partner, Damian Crawford, works full-time for Barry Coster, a dairy farmer at Riverbrook.
“He’s also gaining further knowledge to bring back to the table for when we start our own thing,” she said.
The couple has resisted buying equipment and machinery.
“Equipment and machinery depreciates so quickly,” Helena said.
“We’re better to add those assets when we’re ready to start working as dairy farmers.
“In the meantime, we’re building our milking herd.”
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