Despite growing up on a farm in South Australia, Poppy Kentish had no desire to work on the land as a kid. Ballet was her life.
"I started when I was three years old, just in a little school out of Mount Gambier in South Australia and I loved it," Poppy says.
"When I was 10, I danced five nights a week and was having the best time ever."
Dancing created a clear path for Poppy, who moved to Adelaide for more opportunities, but it wasn't an easy road.
"We worked hard, it didn't come easy for me. I really had to work for my flexibility and I spent countless days after school crying because I couldn't get it," she says.
"Every night after school I would be there until 9pm, and when I was in year 11 and 12 I would actually get [time off] studies so I could do half a day at school and half a day of dancing.
"It's one of those industries that it is so rough on your mentality," Poppy says.
"That's probably what I got out of it the most: [learning] … how strong-minded I am."
Grit, and 'the best fun ever'
Poppy persisted with her training and in 2020 was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance to further her studies.
"It was just the best fun ever, we lived and breathed it. I'm still in contact with the mates I had there," Poppy says.
"It was quite like having a crew here, you know, you live together and you work together on the station."
When she returned to Australia, Poppy took a road trip with her dad, and got a taste of station life.
"I joined Dad on a little station-hop. I've always wanted to come up here [to north-west Queensland] but didn't think it was something I was able to do," she says.
"So when I came back, I jumped in my ute and worked my way up."
Poppy says the trip changed her perspective.
"I felt so claustrophobic at home; I was able to breathe up here," Poppy says.
New life as jillaroo
Now based on Paraway Pastoral in Julia Creek, Poppy is a jillaroo, mustering cattle on horseback and motorbike.
She plans to continue her career in agriculture and is excited about the innovation in the industry.
"People ask me, 'How did you get up and move?' but I'm constantly hunting that growth of mindset," Poppy says.
"It is so cliche, but it really is, you know, growing yourself.
"The moment you stop, do you just become boring? You've got no stories to tell. So yeah, I'm all about the stories."
'Just do it'
So, what does it take to make such a dramatic change in your life?
"I'm 20 years old and I'm able to do all these things now. I'd say to people, 'Just do it'.
"Working in agriculture will always be something I do. I want to do more in the stock handling side of things and further my knowledge in that.
"You just have to pack your bag and go, otherwise you talk yourself out of it when you are so comfortable."
