Bengalla Agricultural Company is proof mining and farming can co-exist.

The 1,100-hectare, cattle grazing, dairy farming, and dryland and irrigated cropping operation neighbours Bengalla Mine, which is located on the outskirts of Muswellbrook in New South Wales.

The farming operation has four employees, including station hand Shonique O’Donohue-Goossens, who is blazing a trail in the male dominated agricultural sector.

“I am a country kid who grew up surrounded by cows and farmland,” Shonique said.

“All I ever wanted to do was work on the land. It never really occurred to me it was a male dominated industry until I was a teenager.

“If you’re a female who has a bit of grit and dreams of working in the farming industry, don’t take no for an answer, just go out and do it.

“Don’t give up and definitely don’t listen to anyone who puts you down or tells you females don’t belong on the land.”

Since acquiring a controlling interest in Bengalla Mining Company in 2018, New Hope Group has undertaken significant work at Bengalla Agricultural Company to re-establish and replace infrastructure, renovate pasture and crop lands, and increase breeder numbers.

“It’s a pretty cool place to work,” Shonique said.

“We have such a lovely little set up here, but to think there is a big mining operation going on just over the road is amazing. The difference is unreal.

“There is no such thing as a normal day. We might be checking the irrigators, watering the crops or throwing an eye over the cattle.

“The cattle are my favourite. They’re calm, lovely-natured animals.

“They are a bit funny to watch, and they definitely do their own thing sometimes, but they have these big, gorgeous personalities.”