He said it was critical farmers reached out to check in on each other regularly, given their isolation made it easier for negative thoughts to take root.
“I probably had the issues as a youngster as well. Driving back after cricket [to the family farm, 200km from Perth] , sometimes it could be pretty lonely.
Brad Hogg trains at the MCG after annoucing his retirement in 2008.Credit: Vince Caligiuri
“If you’d got out for a duck, or not done well, you’d have these negative thoughts [while] going back to the farm … then all of a sudden the relationship with the old man on the farm, there was a bit more tension.”
The Farmer Mates program consists of forums at events like AgQuip and Hogg said he was glad he could help others by sharing his own struggles and stories.
“We have had a couple of success stories with the tour so far – a couple of instances where people have come up…