After running rural drone or photography workshops I’m usually approached by at least one parent asking whether their daughter, who is really keen on photography, should pursue a career as a photographer. (And yes, virtually every time it has been daughter, not son.) If I say ‘yes go for it’ (as many other photographers do) […]
Fiona Lake Blog
Rural photography competitions can help foster a thriving rural photography scene – but most don’t
September 7th, 2020Spray drones for precision agriculture & conservation land management
September 1st, 2020It’s very easy as your career progresses to get so immersed in what you know that you forget that the knowledge isn’t actually widely known. And things that seem ridiculously obvious – aren’t, to other people. This train of thought was precipitated by the polarised responses to someone else’s LinkedIn post regarding a new spray […]
Looking for information on drones on farms or cattle stations?
July 7th, 2020I’m receiving increasing enquiries from regional Australians seeking information on drones, particularly for use on farms or cattle stations. It’s fantastic to see the rising interest and the determination to seek out reliable information! Unfortunately there’s not enough spare time or resources in my business to provide one-on-one consultations and too many valuable aspects are […]
Practical tips for public speaking – conferences & workshops
June 5th, 2020This is part of a series aimed at passing on what I’ve learned to help others get started with public speaking – to then pass on their specialist knowledge to others. Particularly women, as most of the events I attend have 70-90% male speakers. Many conference organisers are actively looking for more women to ensure […]
All agricultural conferences must now be in regional areas. No excuses!
February 9th, 2020You think the ‘buy from the bush’ campaign is a good idea? Here’s an equally useful way to shift large amounts of money into the bush. Agricultural conferences have traditionally been run in capital cities for sound reasons. Because back when ag conferences started to crank up: Regional flights were less frequent and a lot […]
Irrigation schemes in Australia
January 30th, 2020Irrigation is vital in Australia; it’s the only way we can produce a lot of our food, due to our naturally erratic rainfall. And in dry years, it’s the only way a lot of livestock can be kept alive, or fattened. But it’s very frustrating to hear politicians and others yet again spruiking the idea […]
Why do cities exist and bushfire protection
January 3rd, 2020It seems many Australians need a good think about why large towns and cities came into being because the fundamental reasons why are still relevant today. But rarely discussed. A reminder of the principal reasons may help more thoughtful decisions be made about where and how to live. When looking for a house to live […]
Public speaking – how to get started presenting at conferences or running workshops
November 28th, 2019Formal education should be just the foundation for life-long learning. Google is a perpetual feast of information and despite the advent of webinars, conference calls, Skype, Zoom, Slack and other conversations via technology, in-person gatherings can’t be beaten for speeding knowledge ahead, increasing understanding and creating strong networks . Over the last 3 decades I’ve […]
Quality merino wool jumpers, coats, skirts, blankets
November 15th, 2019I wrote this blog post listing Australian wool clothing makers who are online because surprising numbers of people end up on my website after searching for Australian Merino wool-related subjects. Many are looking for woollen garments or information. So here’s a useful shortlist of some of the better-known retailers and manufacturers, so you can do […]
Ugg boots – be careful you’re buying genuine Australian owned & manufactured
June 22nd, 2019*Please note – the main story below was written in 2009. Some of the links may be broken but they will be left as-is because they contain the original addresses for the reference information & quotes used. Some other links were updated in June 2016; when Deckers yet again launched legal action against an Australian […]