We are Mitch and Rachael (aka Mr and Mrs Mooeys), owners of The Mooeys Group, we started our journey with a common love for animals and the outdoors. Despite facing a number of difficult and testing challenges (droughts, floods, fires, deaths) we have persevered with the help of many mentors and not shying away from a bit of hard work. Our farm now boasts over 90 head of cattle, and we feel our story is a testament to the importance of mateship, learning, and never giving up.
From a young age, I had a love for animals and the outdoors, this was nurtured by my father and grandfather. However, it was my kindergarten teacher, Mr Johnstone, who took me to my first cattle sale, setting me up along the path to becoming a farmer. Through my younger years I was always pulling things apart and putting them back together, I loved to know how and why things worked the way they did. I bought my first car (a Holden LX Torana) at 14 and this passion for cars has never stopped.
Many years later, I had taken my car to a car show not far from home and in a flash it was like time had stopped... there she was, walking her dog up and down through all the cars. There was something that I was immediately drawn to, and me, being ever the romantic said, "Who brings a dog to a car show?" and that was it, she stopped, we got talking and we just hit it off. That was the day I met Mrs Mooey, Rachael. In a very short amount of time we discovered our common love of animals and a desire to help others in some shape or form.
After a few more years of hard work and saving, we bought a farm and called it Mooeys.
We started it all with just three baby steers, unfortunately not long after we bought the farm, our area was hit with one of the worst droughts on record. Stock was worth nothing, farmers were just shooting there stock rather than watching them die from hunger and poor condition. We we had to sell our steers as feed was worth more then what we could afford and I could not bring myself to shoot these boys as they had meant so much to Rach and I. We sold them for a fraction of their true value and what we bought them for, but can I just say, money aside, it bloody hurt.
A few months after the drought, things started to green up again and I was at our local produce store buying some seed when who should I run into but my Kindy teacher Mr Johnstone. Now I don't believe in things happening without a reason, we got to talking and I asked him so many questions I could see his head spinning. He was the catalyst to getting us back on our feet, I became a sponge, I watched what he did, when he did it and how he did it. Mr Johnstone helped get our herd started again, we bought some Brafords - 4 cows and a bull - they suited us to a tee as they were already very spoilt and well cared for.
Later that year bushfires began around our area and burnt out pretty much whatever feed we had been growing, but we had learnt from before and were quick to buy up feed bales, unfortunately however with these extra costs it nearly sent us broke, interest rates were going up like crazy too. But as any farmer knows, it isn't easy and you just keep going. We refused to throw in the towel. Instead, we worked even harder, selling cars and working extra shifts to keep our Mooey's dream alive and the business afloat. I truly believe that perseverance and determination can make all the difference.
A few months went by, we kept going... then clouds came and the rains came, so we celebrated, but it was short lived as this time the rains didn't stop. I personally felt this was easier than the drought, but it was still tough. We lost a number of cattle and a few of these were our future breeders, the future of Mooey's. It just seemed that no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't get a break. This was rock bottom, we were a mess, I remember sitting in the middle the floor just crying, feeling guilty for getting us here, feeling downtrodden from trying to get up so many times before, feeling it was time to give it all away.
Then the phone rang, it was Mr Tapp, the same Mr Tapp from who we had recently purchased our Brafords - he was ringing to see how we were getting on. His house had just gone underwater. They had lost almost everything. I hung up the phone and I stood up... no matter how tough life might get, remember there is always someone who cares and someone doing it tougher. I called Mr Johnstone, we loaded up the utes with fuel, generators, food and feed and set off to the Tapps - we had to use kayaks to paddle up to their house, the site was pure devastation, my heart ached, but to see their smiling, grateful faces made it all worth it.
Our love for animals and the outdoors has been a driving force in our Mooey's journey. To me farming isn't about having the best cow or best crops or best location. It is about mateship, about helping each other and no matter what, never giving up. I believe our story is a testament to the importance of following your passions and giving things a try, even when it seems like a long shot. We continue to learn each and every day.
I am where I am now thanks to a few amazing people
Rach's Pop Bill a top bloke who will work hard until the end
My Pa David,. from his family farm store in Tamworth to our reality in Grafton
Garry Johnstone from Kindy teacher to mentor to a good mate
Andrew and Angie Tapp – for helping give us our second start
Michael Cotton- mentor, friend and wealth of knowledge
And my Dad, my hero, mentor and motivator
and of course, Rachael, I wouldn't be here without you
That's our story so far, until the next chapter. Mitch
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