Image: Leila, Chilla and Ash on the set of Just a farmer.
UNE technician, Ashleigh Barnett, has a very special connection to a new movie shedding light on farmers, their mental wellbeing and suicide.
Not only did she work on the set of Just a farmer, which was filmed on location in Tatyoon, Victoria, and played an extra, the movie was produced by her lifelong best friend Leila MacDougall.
The movie is an emotional rollercoaster and follows Alison’s gripping story set in Rural Australia. When tragedy strikes, Alison finds herself thrust into the role of managing a struggling farm and navigating the challenges of an alcoholic father-in-law. The movie explores the themes of love, loss, and the unbreakable spirit of a farming community facing adversity head-on and has an incredible powerful message raising awareness of metal health and suicide statistics for farmers.
Farmer mental health awareness is a topic close to Ash’s heart and she is urging people to go and see the movie when it shows at the Belgrave on 14 and 15 March.
Ash’s horse, Chilla, also features prominently in some of the scenes and she’s headed to Melbourne this weekend to be interviewed by Australian story as a friend of the lead actress and producer, screen writer of the movie.