MARCUS Muller was a builder who for a few years now has been working hard to build himself a new career – on the land.
And he’s made that a spectacularly public statement with his amazing photo of his son Logan sitting on the fence of sheep yards at the original Tiega shearing shed to the west of Ouyen.
The photo appears on the cover of the inaugural North West Farmer calendar, which is being sold to help raise funds for the VFF’s ‘Making our farms safer’ project.
Mr Muller said he loved his photography but was the first to admit he’s no pro.
“I don’t have any equipment fancier than my good old phone,” he explained.
“But I do think I have a little bit of an eye for it and was really happy with the shot of Logan, which was taken when he was five.”
Mr Muller grew up in Mildura but had relatives who were farmers and he fell for the country life during his regular visits there.
Since making the life-changing decision to go country, Marcus has been happy to head to the serious outback in search of his dream – including a stint on the neighbouring Rowena and Tirlta stations southwest of White Cliffs in the heart of NSW.
He has also worked near Ouyen and is currently on an 11,000 acre cropping and sheep property at Merrinee – although he, his wife Bronte Loveridge, Logan and a baby to be announced sometime in February, are based in Mildura.
“I really fell for the farming lifestyle while we were up on the stations, it was an amazing 18 months,” Mr Muller said.
“Now as a family we are hoping we might soon be able to look around, initially maybe at leasing some land around Millewa, or across the northern Mallee, and have a crack at our own farm,” he explained.
“And it might have to be lease for a while, the prices around here are pretty strong and showing no signs of slowing down.
“But we very much want to have a go, and have learnt so much since making the change from building so we will have to see how we go.”
There’s a picture perfect lifestyle beckoning out there, and to fast-track that opportunity, Marcus confessed he is buying the occasional lottery ticket because he reckons he will need something that size if he is to ever purchase that farm of his dreams.
