Like a gap year for middle-aged empty-nesters, Derek and Jackie Edwards are living the dream, working in exchange for food and board.

"We worked hard all our lives. I am a brickie by trade and a farmer as well. We had reared our family," Mr Edwards explained.

"We took the plunge and took a year off and got on a plane and we landed over here in Australia."

Taking a break from crushing fruit, Mr Edwards surveyed the view at Bago Winery just south of Port Macquarie.

While he was elbow deep in the juice and skins of the berries, his wife is whipping up cappuccinos in the winery's cafe, owned by Jim Mobbs.

At their mature age, the Edwards are disqualified from gaining a work visa, which is available to backpackers under 30.

Instead they are on a tourist visa.

This means they are not allowed to be paid for work and must leave the country every few months.

So they have flown across the Tasman to get their passports stamped before returning.

Stonemason's skills

Surfing the net, they found a website connecting them with Australian farmers willing to have them on their properties.

"This allows us to live with local people, see their way of life. In return we do a few hours work for our board and we are loving it," Mrs Edwards noted, with her lovely Irish lilt.

That few hours work has not always been spent mustering animals or crushing fruit.

On one Sandy Hollow farm in the Upper Hunter Valley, Mr Edwards put his considerable stonemasonry skills to building an impressive solid entrance to one of their host farms.

"A stonemason is only as good as the stone. We were lucky enough to have fairly good stone to work with," Mr Edwards said.

Stark comparison to the Emerald Isle

While enjoying life in the Australian primary sector, they have noted considerable differences.

The most stark is their first-hand experience of the drought gripping much of the eastern seaboard.

"We have too much rain in Northern Ireland and you don't have enough, that is obvious to see," Mr Edwards said.

"When all is said and done, if we could give you some of our rain and you could give us some of your drought that would be the best plan."

The family run 22 head of cattle and a sheep herd which is a cross between Suffolk, and two European breeds the Texel and Charolais.

That difference in weather also has Mr Edwards pointing out just how that influences his farm operation.

"I know you have drought here, but life overall is much easier," he said.

"Your cattle are out all year round. You don't have the expense of something like a 100,000 euro ($162,428), which we have spent for a measly 22 cows that are housed inside for several months of the year."

Mrs Edwards is also curious about the enterprise of Australian farms.

"From the farms we have seen in Australia, the successful ones it's a business. It must be treated as a business," she said.

"Australian farmers spend nearly as much time in front of a computer screen.

"They know exactly what is happening. It is so much a commercial business compared to in Ireland."

Female farmers

The Edwards run their property as a partnership, but also earn off-farm income.

Like in Australia there is a growing focus on the role of women, not just on farms, but in all primary sector organisations.

"That is coming to the fore a lot. Our farming organisations, our farmers unions are pretty much male dominated. Women are being encouraged to come forward," Mrs Edwards said.

"I'd say we have a minority of good female farmers in Ireland. We have noticed here in Australia and even more so in New Zealand is the amount of female farmers who are here.

"Also, the number of couples here who are as much a part of the farm as each other. In Ireland it is more a male-dominated thing."

Men's sheds

Both countries share the Men's Shed movement and Mr Edwards said there is a growing awareness of mental health in the primary sector.

Ireland's Health Board is promoting Men on the Move.

"About three years ago we went along one evening, after a day on the farm, and were weighed and blood pressure was recorded," Mr Edwards said.

"We then went off for a half-hour walk for the first few nights then we said we might try running and before you knew it we were all running. Then into the gym.

"Men as a whole never say anything about their wee problems. One of my friends turned to me and said I was depressed, and I didn't even know it.

"Needless to say, the Men on the Move got him up and going."

While they may not be hitting the gym while in Australia, they are enjoying the change of scenes and flavours.

"I have been told the Irish palate prefers the so-called new-world wines such as those produced in Australia," Mrs Edwards said.

"I find the German and French wines a little harsher.

"Back home I have always bought Australian wines, although I do like the New Zealand wines."

Given it was around lunchtime when they were taking a break amongst the vines, when asked to choose between a pot of tea, Guinness or a rose?

"I'll have the wine at this time of the day," Mr Edwards replied, backed by his wife, "Oh, an Australian rose would be lovely."

Source | ABC - Michael Cavanagh