Letters From Home

Amanda Ferrari
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Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique programs, & hosts an annual "Nailing Homesickness" miniseries to help new boarders. Our podcast is essential listening for boarding families and staff, we welcome your feedback, reviews, & ratings.

  1. When Education Opens the Gate: with Duncan Taylor

    MAR 26

    When Education Opens the Gate: with Duncan Taylor

    Duncan Taylor knows firsthand what it means to leave a small rural town in pursuit of education - and what it means to come home again. Growing up on a sheep and cattle property in Nimmitabel on the Monaro, Duncan headed away to boarding school at just nine years old. Like many country children of that era, the experience felt confronting at first. But over time it shaped his understanding of institutions, community and the skills young people need to thrive beyond the farm gate. Years later, Duncan and his wife Bronnie found themselves navigating the same journey as parents when their own daughters went to boarding school. In this conversation, Duncan reflects on what it’s like to support children from afar and the balance parents must strike between protecting their children and allowing them to grow. Beyond his own family story, Duncan has been deeply involved in advocating for rural education. As a former President of the Isolated Children’s Parents Association of NSW, he worked to improve access and support for geographically isolated families. Today, he is helping lead one of the most exciting developments in regional education - the growth of Country Universities Centres across Australia. These community-led facilities are giving rural students access to university study closer to home, with technology, support and a learning community designed for regional life. It’s a conversation about opportunity, patience, community leadership and why education remains one of the most powerful tools for strengthening rural Australia.

    39 min
  2. From ‘Not Us’ to ‘Why Not?’: A Family’s Unexpected Boarding Path with Robert Bevern

    MAR 19

    From ‘Not Us’ to ‘Why Not?’: A Family’s Unexpected Boarding Path with Robert Bevern

    What happens when boarding school isn’t in your family “DNA”… and then suddenly it is? In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda sits down with Robert Bevern - a NSW Police dad whose family story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest decisions don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin with a simple moment of curiosity. Rob is a born-and-bred Northern Beaches local. His wife, Traci, grew up on a property outside Casino in northern NSW. Their policing careers brought them together in Sydney, and later a promotion took the family to the Central West - what was meant to be a three-year posting turned into ten years in Dubbo, and a country lifestyle they’ve grown to truly love. And then came one cold, wet Saturday in 2023. With netball done for the day and nothing much planned, Rob and Traci took their girls along to the Dubbo Boarding School Expo “just to have a look.” They didn’t have questions prepared. They didn’t think it would go anywhere. Their eldest, Lilli - then in Year 6 - was adamant they weren’t sending her away. But as they walked the aisles, spoke to schools, and began to understand the options, something shifted. They realised that if Dubbo’s secondary options didn’t feel like the right fit, they wanted a Plan B - and for Lilli, a strong swimming program mattered. From there, tours followed, and the decision became real in the most unexpected way: a phone call from St Catherine’s swimming coach, who had been tracking Lilli’s times and wanted to know how her application was going. Rob shares the emotional reality of that “snowball” moment - the tears, the long conversations, and the importance of letting Lilli have a genuine voice in the choice. He also speaks honestly about what helped her settle: routine, opportunity, and getting involved from day one. If you’ve ever thought, “Boarding school isn’t for us,” this one will leave you with a simple, reassuring message: keep an open mind - and go and have the conversation. Also in the show notes: a related listen on choosing the right fit - “Big or Small? Finding the Right Boarding Fit with Nonie Ayling.”

    46 min
  3. The Postie with the Mostie: The 600km Mail Run with Bec Climie

    MAR 12

    The Postie with the Mostie: The 600km Mail Run with Bec Climie

    In some of the most isolated parts of Australia, Bec Climie hasn’t just delivered the mail - she’s delivered connection, joy and community. On the vast station country of North Queensland, where families can live hundreds of kilometres apart and the wet season can cut roads for months, connection is not always easy to find. But for the families along the Kynuna-McKinlay mail run, connection often arrives in the passenger seat of a mail truck. For nearly a decade, Bec Climie has been delivering mail across a 600 kilometre loop from Julia Creek. Along the way she has turned an ordinary mail run into something extraordinary. There’s the Mail Run Show, where children and adults leave their creations in the mailbox to be judged - everything from scones and photography to Lego masterpieces and pet pigs. There’s a Secret Santa that travels hundreds of kilometres, a once-a-year mystery book club adventure, and even the unforgettable year when Bec delivered ice creams to every mailbox from a Mr Whippy van. In places where neighbours can be 400 kilometres apart, these small ideas have created something much bigger - community. In this episode of Letters from Home, Amanda Ferrari speaks with Bec about life on the mail run, the creativity that keeps remote families connected, and the quiet role the mail still plays in linking children at boarding school with the families waiting for them at home.

    35 min
  4. The Courage to Change Course: Parenting through a boarding journey that didn’t follow the plan with Geraldine Clark

    MAR 5

    The Courage to Change Course: Parenting through a boarding journey that didn’t follow the plan with Geraldine Clark

    Not every boarding school journey follows a straight line - and sometimes, the bravest thing a parent can do is change direction. In this episode of Letters from Home, Amanda sits down with Geraldine Clark from Barraba, NSW, a mum who knows firsthand that “best intentions” don’t always lead to the right fit. Geraldine shares her family’s lived experience of navigating boarding school choices for two daughters - starting at one school, recognising when things weren’t working, making the difficult decision to step away, and finding new environments where her girls could truly belong and thrive. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful reminder: our children only get one Year 7, one Year 10, one Year 12. When something isn’t right, parents are allowed to pause, reassess, and choose again. Geraldine also speaks passionately about the culture of boarding houses and the unique energy that rural and regional students bring to school communities. She describes it as a “vibe” - something you can feel the moment you walk through the corridors. From the way staff know the students beyond the classroom, to the loyalty and camaraderie between boarders, it’s this sense of belonging that often makes all the difference. Country kids, Geraldine believes, are the heartbeat of many boarding houses. They muck in, lift each other up, bring humour, resilience and perspective - and when the boarding house is alive, the whole school feels it. Without that bush spirit, schools can struggle to ignite the sense of commitment and connection that keeps communities strong. This is an honest, generous conversation for any parent questioning their choices, worrying about fit, or wondering whether change is even an option. Geraldine’s message is clear: trust your instincts, stay connected with the school, and never be afraid to choose your child - even when the path changes. Also mentioned: https://boardingschoolco.com.au/inside-a-small-boarding-community-at-a-big-school-with-danniella-at-assumption-college/

    45 min
  5. Not in Our DNA: A Walgett Family’s Unexpected Journey to Boarding School with Daniel Bashford

    FEB 26

    Not in Our DNA: A Walgett Family’s Unexpected Journey to Boarding School with Daniel Bashford

    When Daniel Bashford and his wife moved their family from the Hunter Valley to Walgett, boarding school wasn’t part of the plan. Daniel had taken up a promotion with the NSW Police, and together they embraced the move as a way to raise resilient, adaptable young people. What they found in Walgett surprised them - a welcoming community, strong friendships, local sport, and a sense of belonging that challenged the town’s often-misunderstood reputation. But alongside the positives came a confronting reality: local schooling options were limited. And as conversations among their daughters’ peers turned to boarding school, Daniel and his wife found themselves facing a decision they never expected to make. In this heartfelt episode of Letters from Home, Daniel shares what it’s like to navigate boarding school from the outside - without family history, without prior knowledge, and without seeing yourself as “that type” of family. He speaks candidly about the emotional weight of sending children away, the myths around elitism and privilege, the importance of research, and the financial realities many families fear. Their journey ultimately led them to The Glennie School in Toowoomba, where their eldest daughter is beginning her boarding chapter - confident, excited, and already changed by the resilience she’s built through rural life. This conversation is a powerful reminder that boarding school isn’t just for farming families. It’s a pathway chosen by teachers, police, nurses, defence families and others who want to stay in the bush while still opening doors for their children. A thoughtful, honest story about parenting from afar - and choosing possibility when local options fall short.

    35 min
  6. Two Homes, One Heart - Boarding from the Top End with Anna Cochrane

    FEB 19

    Two Homes, One Heart - Boarding from the Top End with Anna Cochrane

    From one of Australia’s most famous cattle stations, this episode of Letters from Home offers a deeply grounded and quietly powerful reflection on what it means to parent from afar. Anna Cochrane lives and works alongside her husband on Newcastle Waters, managing life on a vast Northern Territory station while raising three daughters - all of whom now attend boarding school in Brisbane. In this conversation, Anna shares her journey from growing up in regional New South Wales to station life across Queensland and the Northern Territory, and the realities of sending children to boarding school when distance is measured in days, not hours. She speaks candidly about the logistics - flights, long drives, cost, and planning - but also about the emotional work of staying connected when your children live thousands of kilometres away. What emerges is a thoughtful and deeply reassuring perspective on boarding school. Anna reflects on independence, resilience, and the way distance can sometimes strengthen family relationships rather than strain them. She also shares practical wisdom for families preparing for boarding - from early conversations with children to managing expectations around visits and homesickness. This episode will resonate strongly with remote and regional families navigating big decisions, and with parents quietly doing the work of loving, supporting and letting go - all at the same time. Listeners may also enjoy our Nailing Homesickness episode with Anna’s daughter Clementine.

    40 min
  7. City Girl, Bush Life, Big Decisions with Amy Clark

    FEB 12

    City Girl, Bush Life, Big Decisions with Amy Clark

    Amy Clark on belonging, “critical mass” in small-town schools, and choosing boarding to give her boys room to grow. In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda chats with Amy Clark from Walcha on the northern tablelands of NSW, about the decision to send her children to boarding school, and everything that sits underneath that choice. Amy shares her unique background growing up between Sydney and the Central Coast, shaped by horses, family expectations around education, and watching her siblings experience boarding school from the “outside looking in”. Now raising three boys on a sheep and wool property, Amy speaks candidly about rural family life, the intense juggle of parenting alongside agricultural work, and the practical realities that influence schooling decisions. Together, Amanda and Amy explore the pressure on small-town secondary schooling when student numbers dwindle, the ripple effects of teacher shortages, and the often-unspoken guilt families can feel when they have local options, yet still choose boarding for broader opportunities and support. At the heart of it all is Amy’s hope for her boys: belonging, resilience, strong friendships, and a solid foundation to step confidently into the world.

    45 min
  8. Big Steps, Big Love with Lisa Green: A Single Mum’s Journey to Boarding School

    FEB 6

    Big Steps, Big Love with Lisa Green: A Single Mum’s Journey to Boarding School

    Researching schools, navigating scholarships, and letting go with love. In this heartfelt episode of Letters from Home, Amanda sits down with Lisa - a single mum, teacher, and devoted advocate for her daughter Ellie - to explore what it truly looks like to research and choose boarding school as a single parent. As this episode goes live, Lisa and Ellie are preparing to head to Frensham, where Ellie will begin Year 7 and her boarding journey this year in 2026. Their story captures that tender in-between space so many families know well: the excitement of new opportunity, the weight of financial realities, and the quiet grief that comes with letting go. Lisa shares what gave her the courage to walk into a Boarding Schools Expo knowing that a bursary or scholarship was the only way boarding school could be possible. She speaks openly about co-parenting through major decisions, the support she received from Ellie’s dad - whose own boarding experience shaped his perspective - and how together they weighed fit, welfare, learning style and opportunity. Despite living in a large regional centre with many schooling options, Lisa explains why boarding school felt like the right choice for Ellie - particularly as a creative, curious learner hungry for language, arts, independence and connection. This episode is also a powerful reflection on values: where Lisa’s belief in education comes from, why she is unapologetically pro-girls, and how she hopes this experience will shape Ellie’s confidence and independence. If this conversation resonates, we highly recommend listening to our much-loved episode The Grief of Dropping Your Child at Boarding School with Kirsty Wiggins - our most listened-to episode ever - which we’ve linked here. We send our love to Lisa and Ellie as they begin this new chapter, and to all boarding families - especially those facing their very first drop-off. Big steps. Big love.

    31 min
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About

Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique programs, & hosts an annual "Nailing Homesickness" miniseries to help new boarders. Our podcast is essential listening for boarding families and staff, we welcome your feedback, reviews, & ratings.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Ferrari
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amanda Ferrari
  • Show Website
    Letters From Home

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