When I first started this website, well only a couple of months ago now – I was introduced to Em by another reader – who linked us due to our ‘country’ lifestyles.

She has been an avid and lovely commenter and supporter since, and I must say the feeling is mutual.

We have exchanged emails and comments on each other’s work and she is just one of those genuine people that you want to have in your posse, y’know?

Em is a country girl through and through and her photography is going places.

You will see from our interview that Em has the very spirit that personifies being Australian.

Make sure you say Hello and check out her amazing photography here

Some of her work  featured here with Em’s permission.

Who is Em Bradshaw?

A cowgirl that at 17 packed a suitcase and received a one way ticket to the Kimberley in north Western Australia from her parents to work on a cattle station and then didn’t come back for … years.

By the age of 21 I had worked on a few stations across the Kimberley, injured myself falling off a horse and then 12 months later in a car accident.

After a short stint in a wheelchair in New South Wales (NSW) I went back to enjoy the Kimberley all over again!

I have done a number of different jobs, including an office manager, personal assistant, photographer, rodeo announcer, ringer, station supplies sales woman, chook musterer, sprinkler shifter, gate swinger and back yard crew.

Most of these were on a beautiful station called Yeeda which was 200 kms from Broome. Here I worked for my Kimberley family Jack & Vicki Burton and their kids Minna & Will.

Yeeda was such a special part of my life, I stayed for 6 years until my injuries outweighed the fun and so I headed back to NSW to be closer to family and medical care.
I’m now doing a variety of jobs, after Yeeda I don’t think I could ever just settle into one typecast.

So for a few days a week I don my pearls, skirt and heels and work in sales and accounts, then on Thursday’s I grab my cowboys hat, boots & jeans and work at the sale yards in Dubbo, this is a fantastic job and gives me my cow fix once a week!

Now I am a 32 years young photographer and am living and working in Dubbo, a few years ago I started Wild Fillies Photography and am focusing on showcasing all facets Rural Australia and the people who keep it thriving, to the world.

Where do you live and what do you love about it?

Dubbo in Central West New South Wales on the east coast of Australia.

I’m sure there is heel marks right across Australia where I dug my boots in about not moving to Dubbo from the Kimberley.

But, I must say I have been pleasantly surprised.

Dubbo is pretty cool at the moment I have the perfect spot to travel to all the events, family and friends I want at a few hours notice.

This is a vast difference from when I was living up north WA.

I probably should say the Western Plains Zoo is something I love about Dubbo – but I never get there to appreciate it!
So I’m going with the people and most importantly the location to close proximity to our family farm only a few hours north.
This list would be a lot longer if I was still up north!

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about my photography and more importantly showcasing beautiful rural Australia and the people that live and work in it.

Passion sometimes can come from joy and sometimes from hardship.

I spent twelve wonderful years in the Kimberley but it was not without its challenges.
I think these hardships have made me passionate about young people in the bush, especially young woman who work hard and play hard.

Living by the word of the land;  the “never giving up”, “get back on the horse”, “remember there is someone always worse of than you” and my favorite “grit your teeth and get on with it”.
That’s not to say that I have perfected any of these traits, but I have always tried to surround myself with family and friends who keep that Aussie Bush Spirit alive in me and make me “pick myself up & dust myself off”!
My life philosophy would have to be that : No matter the length of the drought you should never give up hope to smell the rain again

How do you keep your grass green?

I keep my grass green by being engaged with the world. I was watching a superannuation advertisement the other day and heard all these people of all ages talking about what their dreams are to do when they retire.

Well I thought bugger that – I want to live my dreams and aspirations NOW! Why would I want to wait until I was at retirement age!

I think also it’s not how I keep it green, but how my friends and family especially my sister are sending rains of love my way! They keep my grass green!

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger?

Quite a lot, but I’m sure I will be saying that 10 years from now as well.

The most important thing I would tell young Em is to never compromise her values and to trust her gut more.

I don’t regret anything, that gets you nowhere – not even the accidents as they have led me to where I am today and the people in my life.

But there have been a few times where I have let young Em down simply by not trusting myself enough. And she could probably have been nicer to her younger sister more – as she is a dynamo and the best friend I could ever have!

Young Em should have seen that sooner and maybe not sent her out of my room as much as she did!!

What makes you laugh more than anything else in the world?

Lots of things, mainly my family….I was trying to pick just one of them out – but no they are all pretty funny!

Now we have a new batch of nephews & nieces coming through.

My 2 year old Nephew Riley left a most indignant message on my phone the other day when I didn’t answer my phone!! “Aunty Memma – answer your phone!”

What animal are you most like?

When I was younger I was obsessed with palomino horses and would’ve probably said I was like that – however I am probably more like that Brahman cow that pokes in along with the mob but then if you threaten her young or friends or family she will cow-kick you sideways into next week. Am extremely loyal to friends and family.

But mostly happy standing under a Boab tree yarning and chewing the cud!

Finish this sentence…….. I am the change I want to see in the world by….appreciating that you fix your own world first.