Podcast · Kids & Family

Letters From Home

by Amanda Ferrari · English · Kids & Family

Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with f

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 48 min

She loved boarding school. Sending her own kids is another story.

Laura Wilson loved boarding school. Thinking about sending her own children is proving a little more emotional. A mum of six, nurse by trade and partner to Jake in their Quilpie transport business, Laura joins Amanda for a warm, funny and very relatable conversation about country childhoods, family life and the opportunities we want for our children. From growing up around Walgett to boarding at Fairholme in Toowoomba, Laura reflects on lifelong friendships, parents who worked tirelessly to make it possible, and the goodbye hugs that had everyone in tears. Now raising her own family in…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Keep Knocking: Jackson Dowling and the Courage to Do Hard Things
In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda speaks with Jackson Dowling, a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Flight Nurse with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, based in Dubbo. Growing up in Port Macquarie, Jackson was beginning to disengage from school when he decided to apply for a scholarship to attend The Scots College in Sydney. His first application was unsuccessful. Encouraged by a trusted mentor, he applied again and was awarded the opportunity that would change the direction of his life. Jackson speaks candidly about the culture shock of arriving at boarding school in Year 10, the…
S10 · E40 · 22 Sep 2026 · 44 min
Letting Her Go, Watching Her Fly.
What happens when boarding school isn't simply about accessing a broader education, but about opening opportunities for a child that may be difficult to access at home? In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda talks with Heidi Shoecraft, who came to Australia from Denmark as a 19-year-old agricultural exchange student and built a life with her husband Derek and their three children near Theodore in Central Queensland. Heidi shares the family's introduction to boarding school and the very different questions they faced when considering boarding for their daughter Maia, who has mild…
S10 · E39 · 15 Sep 2026 · 47 min
What happens when a naturally ambitious country kid is given the opportunity to spread her wings?
In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda sits down with Jess Redfern, founder of SAVVI the Label, entrepreneur, mum of three little ones and former boarder, for a warm and wonderfully colourful conversation about opportunity, independence, motherhood and backing yourself. Jess shares the remarkable story of deciding in Year 8 that she wanted to go to boarding school, sitting her parents down at the dining room table with the paperwork she'd printed and an interview she'd already organised. It wasn't a pathway her family had previously considered and it required real sacrifice. But…
S10 · E38 · 8 Sep 2026 · 57 min
The Schools That Let Them Stay Home
What does boarding school really look like when home is a station north of Alice Springs and school is in Toowoomba? In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda talks with Sally Muenster, a qualified teacher, mother of four and, with husband Dan, owner and manager of Yambah Station. After fourteen years on a property north of Bourke, Sally and Dan followed a long-held dream and moved their family to the Northern Territory. But their eldest son was already settled at boarding school in Toowoomba, and their next child was preparing to join him. Rather than allow distance to undo a schooling…
S10 · E36 · 1 Sep 2026 · 51 min
She Never Planned to Marry a Farmer
How does a city girl from inner Melbourne become a farmer's wife in Central West NSW? In this episode of Letters From Home , Amanda Ferrari sits down with Georgie Cavanagh, co-founder of luxury Australian linen brand Carlotta & Gee, to explore the unexpected journey that began with what was meant to be, one year at boarding school. Together they discuss: Georgie's Year 9 boarding experience as a city student. The friendships that introduced her to rural Australia. How boarding school fostered independence and adaptability. Building Carlotta & Gee from a handful of pre-orders into a luxury…
S10 · E35 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
She Came to Bourke for Six Months... and Found the Life She Was Meant to Live
What happens when a six-month adventure turns into a lifetime? In this episode, Amanda sits down with Prue Ritchie , General Manager of Bourke's Preschool and Long Day Care Centre, Barwon Woman of the Year and mother of three boarding school students. Prue shares the remarkable story of arriving in Bourke as a teenage governess, falling in love with both the community and the man she would marry, and building a life dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families living in remote Australia. Together they discuss: Growing up in Sydney before discovering a love of remote Australia.…
S10 · E34 · 18 Aug 2026 · 50 min
The Ripple Effect: Rowing, Belonging and the Bush
What happens when you take a sport traditionally associated with city rivers, school boat sheds and fiercely competitive regattas - and put it in the middle of the Australian outback? You get something that is about far more than rowing. In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda speaks with farmer, former Brisbane Grammar boarder and President of Outback Rowing Australia, David Counsell. David shares how rowing first captured him during his final year at Brisbane Grammar, how the Vikings Rowing Club helped spark the idea of taking boats west, and how a recreational lake at Barcaldine…
S10 · E32 · 12 Aug 2026 · 45 min
She Never Planned to Be a Farmer… Now She's Planning for Boarding School
Kaitie Nash – The Life She Never Planned Most people know Kaitie Nash as ‘First Time Farmer’ - the funny, warm and wonderfully unfiltered woman sharing the realities of learning to farm alongside her husband Will. But farming wasn't part of Kaitie's original plan. A one-way ticket from Perth to Darwin was supposed to be a three-month adventure. Instead, shemet Will, stayed for eleven years and eventually found herself moving with two small children to his family's farm in NSW - right in the middle of drought. In this episode of Letters from Home, Kaitie and Amanda talk about finding your…
S10 · E31 · 4 Aug 2026 · 55 min
She Wasn't Looking for a Rural Life... Until She Found Her Purpose
What happens when a young woman from the Gold Coast discovers her purpose in the heart of rural Australia? In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda Ferrari sits down with teacher, ICPA advocate and researcher Hannah Calcino , whose journey from city life to Winton has been shaped by one unwavering belief - that every child deserves equitable access to education, regardless of where they live. Together they discuss: Growing up on the Gold Coast before unexpectedly falling in love with rural Australia. Life as a governess and the lifelong relationships formed with one remote family.…
S9 · E30 · 28 Jul 2026 · 49 min
One Year That Changed Everything
Kate Brow only spent one year boarding at school, but the lessons she learned during that experience continue to influence her life today. In this episode of Letters from Home, Kate shares how a unique boarding-style year helped build confidence, resilience and lifelong friendships before leading her on an unexpected journey from Geelong to life on a family farm in the Snowy Mountains. Kate also speaks candidly about the challenges she faced as a new mother in rural Australia, her involvement with the Gidget Foundation, and how finding connection through Motherland Village ultimately led her…
S10 · E27 · 21 Jul 2026 · 53 min
When Choosing Isn't Easy: A Rural Principal Reflects on the Freedom to Choose
Can a rural school principal believe deeply in country education while also choosing boarding school for his own children? This week, Amanda sits down with Brett Wilkie, principal of a small rural primary school in Western Australia, to explore one of the most complex conversations facing rural Australia. As both an educator and a parent, Brett shares the emotional reality of weighing up educational opportunities, community commitment and family sacrifice. Together they discuss teacher shortages, access to specialist services, the pressure many families feel to justify their choices and why…
S10 · E27 · 15 Jul 2026 · 39 min
The Country Girl Who Had a Crack
Growing up in the small Queensland community of Condamine, Maddie Morgan always knew boarding school would be part of her story. What she didn't know was how profoundly those years would shape her future. Today Maddie is an agribusiness lawyer specialising in succession planning, estate planning and tax structuring. She works closely with farming families across Australia and is passionate about helping agricultural businesses navigate important transitions. She's also the co-founder of Women in Ag, a thriving network connecting, supporting and inspiring women throughout the agricultural…
S10 · E26 · 7 Jul 2026 · 50 min
When Paradise Isn’t Enough
We'reWatching You: A Coastal Family's Boarding School Journey When Katie and Dan Toney left careers in television journalism to run a holiday park in the tiny coastal community of Seal Rocks, boarding school wasn't part of the plan. In fact, it wasn't even on their radar. But as their children approached high school, long daily bus journeys, limited local options and a growing realisation that their children needed more than what was available locally forced them to ask some difficult questions. In this episode of Letters from Home, Katie shares how a series of conversations changed…
S10 · E26 · 1 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
"You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience
You Just Make It Work - OneMum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience What happens when the life you planned changesin an instant? For Sophie Elliott, the answer has been onestep at a time. Born and raised on a cattle station outsideWinton, Sophie grew up learning through the School of Distance Education beforeheading away to boarding school herself. Years later, she found herselfteaching her own children through distance education while living remotely withher young family. Then tragedy struck. When her daughter Peggy was just three yearsold and her son Kip only fifteen…
S10 · E25 · 24 Jun 2026 · 39 min
What My Daughter Never Told Me About Boarding School Part 2
In Part Two, Amanda and Annabel continue their conversation, exploring academic struggles, learning support, friendships, confidence and the lessons boarding school taught that continue to shape Annabel's life today. Now a paediatric occupational therapist and business owner, Annabel shares practical advice for parents and new boarders, along with insights into how children process change, uncertainty and big emotions. A must-listen for families preparing for boarding school or supporting a child through those early years. Follow Annabel: Instagram: @theotcollective_tamworth
S10 · E25 · 17 Jun 2026 · 43 min
What It Really Feels Like to Leave Home at 12 - The Boarding School Conversation We Never Had - An honest conversation with my daughter Annabel Ferrari.
Over the years I've interviewed hundreds of parents, educators, boarding staff and former boarders. I've spent countless hours talking about homesickness, transition, resilience and what it means to send your child away from home. But today I'm sitting down with someone whose story I've never really explored. My daughter, Annabel. Now that sounds a bit ridiculous when you say it out loud. After all, Annabel is twenty-nine years old. She's a paediatric occupational therapist, she runs her own business, she's about to get married and we've shared a lifetime of conversations. And yet, as I…
S10 · E24 · 28 May 2026 · 46 min
The Boarding School Question So Many Rural Parents Ask - Amy Clark’s Honest Education Journey
As we continue travelling throughout regional New South Wales and Queensland for our Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re revisiting some of the conversations from the vault that continue to resonate deeply with families researching boarding school. This week’s episode with Amy Clark is one of those conversations. Amy is a rural mum of three boys living between Walcha and Bendemeer in northern NSW. But unlike many boarding school families, Amy did not grow up in the boarding world herself. She grew up in Sydney before agriculture, nursing and family life led her to rural Australia. What…
S7 · E23 · 21 May 2026 · 52 min
Go Floppy - Sarah Ryan’s Very Real Guide to Boarding School
As we continue our From the Vault series while travelling for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, this week we’re revisiting a conversation that feels especially meaningful in the lead-up to our Wagga Boarding Schools Expo. Sarah Ryan lives with her family on a Merino stud at Quandialla, not too far from Wagga, where she also runs her much-loved creative business, Quandialla Candle Co. In this episode, Sarah brings such a warm, honest and practical perspective to the boarding school journey, shaped by her own experience as a boarder and now as a parent of boarding school children.…
S10 · E22 · 14 May 2026 · 46 min
From “Absolutely Not” to Thriving at Boarding School…The Rainy Day in Dubbo That Changed Everything with Robert Bevern
As we continue our From the Vault series while travelling for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, this week’s episode feels especially timely. We’re revisiting my conversation with Robert Bevern from Dubbo on the eve of our 2026 Dubbo Boarding Schools Expo - because Robert’s family story began at this very event. Boarding school had never really been on the radar for Robert, his wife Tracy, or their daughters. They were living happily in Dubbo, their eldest daughter Lily was enrolled locally for high school, and the idea of sending her away was certainly not part of any grand…
S10 · E21 · 7 May 2026 · 33 min
Just Go and Ask the Question – A Dubbo Mum’s Boarding School Journey with Lisa Green
While we’re travelling across regional Australia for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re opening the vault and revisiting some of our favourite past conversations - the ones that still offer reassurance, perspective and encouragement for families considering boarding school. This week’s episode with Lisa Green from Dubbo is one of those conversations. When Lisa first joined me on the podcast, she and her daughter Ellie were standing right at the beginning of their boarding school journey. Lisa could see clearly that Ellie was a curious learner, hungry for languages, the arts…
S10 · E20 · 30 Apr 2026 · 58 min
When Schools Travel the Distance Too - Why Access to Education Matters in the Bush: with Angie Nisbet
As we hit the road again for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re dipping into the vault over the next few weeks to share some of our favourite past episodes - the ones that still speak so clearly to why we do this work and why these conversations matter. This week’s episode is one of those. It features Angie Nisbet, who many of you will remember from our Mount Isa event in 2024. Angie was such a genuine and generous supporter of that event, and since this conversation was recorded (actually just a few weeks ago) she has deservedly been named Queensland’s Rural Woman of the…
S10 · E19 · 23 Apr 2026 · 27 min
After the Drop-Off - What Term 1 Really Feels Like (and Why It’s Normal) & What to Expect for Term 2: with Kirsty Wiggins
Over the next few weeks, while we’re out on the road for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re opening up the vault and sharing some of our favourite past episodes with you - conversations that still hold so much value for families researching, preparing for, or living through the boarding school journey. This week’s past episode is a really special one. Many of you will remember the beautiful conversation I recorded with my friend Kirsty Wiggins early last year about the grief that can come with the boarding school drop-off. It struck such a chord with listeners because it…
S10 · E18 · 16 Apr 2026 · 31 min
From the Archives: Peter Debus - The Very Personal Decision of Choosing Boarding School
Peter Debus is the Managing Director of PrincipleFocus , a financial management and advisory business based in Dubbo NSW with branches in Sydney and Warren, servicing clients all over Australia. We're bringing this one back from the archives because honestly, it's just that good! When we first sat down with Pete, I wanted to talk about the decision he and his wife Virginia made to send their three children to boarding school from a regional centre that already had plenty of educational options on offer. What unfolded was something much richer. Some of Pete's responses really speak to an…
S10 · E17 · 9 Apr 2026 · 44 min
From Boarding School to Womn-Kind: Ruby Riethmuller Is Changing Lives
Ruby Riethmuller grew up on a farm outside Wagga Wagga and like many country students, the path to opportunity eventually led her to boarding school. In this episode of Letters from Home, Ruby reflects on those years and how they helped shape the person she would become. From discovering new passions and leadership opportunities to building the confidence to step outside her comfort zone, boarding school played a powerful role in opening doors she never knew existed. But it was years later, in conversations with friends about the pressures and struggles they had faced as teenagers, that Ruby…
S10 · E16 · 2 Apr 2026 · 47 min
When the Local Fit Isn’t the Right Fit: with Tina Clifton
A Gunnedah mum’s honest story of school refusal, confidence, and why regional boarding became the circuit-breaker. Tina Clifton is a Gunnedah mum of two boys, raising them on the land with horses, cattle, sheep and mixed cropping at the centre of family life. She’s also a veterinary surgeon, whose career has evolved from mixed practice, to intensive poultry industry, and now into a government role focused on technical and policy work. In this episode of Letters from Home , Tina speaks candidly about the reality behind a schooling pivot: the social mismatch that can happen even in a great…
S10 · E15 · 26 Mar 2026 · 39 min
When Education Opens the Gate: with Duncan Taylor
Duncan Taylor knows firsthand what it means to leave a small rural town in pursuit of education - and what it means to come home again. Growing up on a sheep and cattle property in Nimmitabel on the Monaro, Duncan headed away to boarding school at just nine years old. Like many country children of that era, the experience felt confronting at first. But over time it shaped his understanding of institutions, community and the skills young people need to thrive beyond the farm gate. Years later, Duncan and his wife Bronnie found themselves navigating the same journey as parents when their own…
S10 · E14 · 19 Mar 2026 · 46 min
From ‘Not Us’ to ‘Why Not?’: A Family’s Unexpected Boarding Path with Robert Bevern
What happens when boarding school isn’t in your family “DNA”… and then suddenly it is? In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda sits down with Robert Bevern - a NSW Police dad whose family story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest decisions don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin with a simple moment of curiosity. Rob is a born-and-bred Northern Beaches local. His wife, Traci, grew up on a property outside Casino in northern NSW. Their policing careers brought them together in Sydney, and later a promotion took the family to the Central West - what was meant to be a…
S10 · E13 · 12 Mar 2026 · 35 min
The Postie with the Mostie: The 600km Mail Run with Bec Climie
In some of the most isolated parts of Australia, Bec Climie hasn’t just delivered the mail - she’s delivered connection, joy and community. On the vast station country of North Queensland, where families can live hundreds of kilometres apart and the wet season can cut roads for months, connection is not always easy to find. But for the families along the Kynuna-McKinlay mail run , connection often arrives in the passenger seat of a mail truck. For nearly a decade, Bec Climie has been delivering mail across a 600 kilometre loop from Julia Creek. Along the way she has turned an ordinary mail…
S10 · E12 · 5 Mar 2026 · 45 min
The Courage to Change Course: Parenting through a boarding journey that didn’t follow the plan with Geraldine Clark
Not every boarding school journey follows a straight line - and sometimes, the bravest thing a parent can do is change direction. In this episode of Letters from Home , Amanda sits down with Geraldine Clark from Barraba, NSW, a mum who knows firsthand that “best intentions” don’t always lead to the right fit. Geraldine shares her family’s lived experience of navigating boarding school choices for two daughters - starting at one school, recognising when things weren’t working, making the difficult decision to step away, and finding new environments where her girls could truly belong and…

About Letters From Home

Letters From Home is a English kids & family podcast from Amanda Ferrari. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Amanda Ferrari
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1640150764
Rights: Amanda Ferrari

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English kids & family

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.