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.
