“Twilight years!  What a load of rubbish, I’ve never been busier,” laughs David Jamieson as he mounts his quad bike and sets off to inspect the paddocks, dog Muddy bounding after him.

David and his partner Helen Peters, 81, adore their rescue dog even though he’s chewed his way through thousands of dollars of irrigation piping on their 100-acre Strathbogie sheep farm over the years.

“You name it, he’s chewed it,” explains David, 82, as he tickles Muddy behind the ears.  “He was called Mogli when we first got him.  From day one he loved jumping in the river and rolling around in the mud, so we promptly changed his name.  He knows we love him despite everything.  Just look at him grinning!”   

Muddy is not the only one beaming.  David has never been happier since leaving his role in the wholesale business industry at an age when many opt to retire and following his dream career.  Farming.  

“We’ve definitely enjoyed ourselves more as we’ve grown older.  Life here on the farm has been the happiest chapter of our lives,” he says and Helen, who used to work in administration at a university, agrees.  They were living and working in Melbourne when they decided to follow their hearts to embark on the exciting tree change.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to farm. When I finished school, I ended up joining the family business, but the yearning to work on the land never really went away,” says David.  Fortuitously David later studied a Diploma in Agriculture, which has paid off in spades.  

When they bought the farm on the Strathbogie Tableland it was just paddocks dotted with gum trees.  But they had a vision.  They visited over weekends before moving there permanently when they were in their mid-60’s.  They lived in a flat in the shed on the farm while their spacious home with its breathtaking views was built.

The farm has also allowed Helen to follow her passion, gardening, on a scale like never before.  She planned and built the beautiful garden from scratch. The flowers, the shrubs and the layout reflect her creativity.  She admits there’s something enormously satisfying about creating something out of nothing.

The couple also established a fruit and veggie garden.  Both enjoy cooking, and it’s handy having fresh produce on the trees just waiting to be eaten.

They spend their evenings in the family room, reading in front of the fire during winter or sitting on the verandah breathing in the beauty of the spectacular view and listening to the call of the birds.

“It’s been wonderful,” says Helen.  “We love it here. The years seem to have just flown by.”

They have also embraced country life and say the community spirit is amazing.  Over the years they have established a firm circle of friends in Strathbogie. Helen plays bridge in Euroa and Benalla, and they have involved themselves in a number of local farming organisations which have helped them develop their property.    They have also been involved in numerous community activities.   

“We’ve never really retired,” says Helen.  “It’s been a learning curve, with plenty of hard work but it has all been well worthwhile.  We love it here.”

Their children and grandchildren regularly visit, and they invariably end up hosting over the Christmas season which they love.

More recently they realised they would need a bit of support to continue to live safely and well on the farm and acting on recommendations, contacted Uniting AgeWell.

They receive home care services as well as having equipment in place to help with every-day living.   There are also rails in the bathroom to help with mobility.

They enjoy spending time with Home Care Worker Christine Todd who has a smile as cheery as her personality.

Christine used to be a high-end fashion designer in London and Australia until she threw it in for a career with meaning. She became a veterinary nurse  – which certainly explains why she’s such a Muddy fan!  However, after returning to the UK to care for her elderly dad, and seeing the care lavished on him by aged care staff, she studied to be an aged care worker and has never looked back.

“I’m making a difference, I’m in a role that matters,” she says.

Now David and Helen are looking to start a new chapter of their lives.   Selling the farm and downsizing to nearby Euroa.  After experiencing country life there is no way they would consider returning to Melbourne.

”Do you know the best thing about Melbourne?” quips David whose keen sense of humour is never far from the surface.  “Seeing it disappear in the rear-view mirror of the car!”  

Wherever they go, both say it is good to know that Uniting AgeWell is there to support them.