OUR STORIES
Welcome to The Amplification Project: a living project of our stories and a place where you can tune into or share powerful, long and short-form videos from country people choosing a life with less or no booze that truly inspire.
At Sober in the Country, we know nothing is as powerful or inspiring as seeing or hearing from others who've been where you are.
These are five-star videos that cover a cross-section of everyday rural men and women from young ringers to business Mums who have cut back or ditched alcohol altogether.
You can enjoy these from your living room or play them in your boardroom, and we can send them as files. It's all in aid of helping improve the health outcomes of more rural people and spreading the #OK2SAYNO message.
If you'd like to donate to help fund more of these stories in the future, we'd love your support. The average 7-10 minute production costs our organisation around $5,000-$10,000. Please reach out if you'd like to sponsor a future story or be involved.
Our thanks, always, to The Shine On Foundation for generously funding the first series of ten videos.
[Each video is co-produced and directed by our founder, Shan, to ensure absolute duty of care and safety every step of the way.]
Simmo’s Story
“All the usual Australian stuff that I thought was fun ... everything involved beer. It’s a pretty staple part of rural Australia. I never questioned it. I just thought doing everything with alcohol was normal.”
This story features Sam “Simmo” Simmons, a farmer and dad who chose to walk away from alcohol in 2023. Simmo considers his life without alcohol to be his very best life. He joined the Sober in the Country team in 2026. This video is part 9 in our powerful series called Amplification Project.
PLAY SIMMO'S STORY
Woodsy’s Story
“I felt that I needed to have a drink frequently. I guess that was every day ... Since I’ve cut back I feel proud of myself. I feel like I’m being the dad I really wanted to be and I'm showing up more effectively in my relationship and being a better leader on our farm.”
This story features Dave “Woodsy” Woods, a member of our Bush Tribe peer support group and champion of Sober in the Country’s work. In his 'spare time', Woodsy is a father, husband, 2025 Nuffield Scholar and a cattle producer from Toobeah, Queensland. This video is part 8 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY WOODSY'S STORY
Matty’s Story
“I used to call myself an alcoholic. Now? I just say that I'm a bush bloke who doesn't drink.”
This story features Matty Tonkin, a man of the land and long-time friend and supporter of Sober in the Country. Matty is a father of four who loves his family, his dogs, regenerative farming, and his life as a fit, healthy, sober bloke. Matty's story is powerful and brutally honest as he openly shares insights into the role alcohol played in his declining health, mental health, and suicidal ideation. Please take care while watching. This video is part 7 in our powerful series called Amplification Project.
PLAY MATTY'S STORY
Jake’s Story
“That was the first realisation in my life that I couldn't keep making bad choices and get away with it ... it was the first time I realised that there's a choice every time you put a drink to your mouth.”
This story features Jake Chandler, a young farmer, husband, and dad from southern rural New South Wales who loves his family, his footy, and the land. This video is part 6 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY JAKE'S STORY
Benita’s Story
“As a young person growing up in rural Australia, I absolutely felt like in order to truly belong that you needed to drink alcohol.”
This story features Benita Bensch – farmer, coach and mother to four boys – from Mooney in South West Queensland. This video is Part 5 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY BENITA’S STORY
Hugh & Munro’s Story Mashup
“There’s not many alternatives when it comes to looking for a place to go to socialise and to be with other people. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a pressure to drink [in the country].”
This video shares the stories of two men working a cattle station near Katherine in the Northern Territory – Munro Hardy and Hugh Dawson (see their full stories below). This video is Part 4 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY HUGH & MUNRO’S STORY MASHUP
Munro’s Story
“You hear stories of people cutting back for a month or three months and how good it is, how good they feel. And it was just that … every now and again just chipping away, hearing those stories. And that made me question my habits and what we were doing.”
This story features Munro Hardy – who owns and runs Carbeen Park Cattle Station with his partner Grace, in the Northern Territory. This video is Part 3 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY MUNRO’S STORY
Hugh’s Story
“The catalyst came to me from my managers … they basically told me in black and white that they could see that I had a future in ag and in northern Australia, but that I was going to piss it up against a wall if I didn’t take a pretty good hard look at what I was doing.”
This story features Hugh Dawson – a former station hand in the far north of the Northern Territory. This video is Part 2 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY HUGH’S STORY
Danielle’s Story
“I can’t really pinpoint any time that I went from just being a happy social drinker to someone that couldn’t stop. Once I had that first drink, I just had to keep drinking.”
This story features Danielle Sticklen – farmer, married mother of three and descendant of the Ngunnawal mob – from Warwick in South East Queensland. This video is Part 1 of our groundbreaking Amplification Project.
PLAY DANIELLE’S STORY
Matty’s Testimonial
“As I grew I up … it became second nature. Every day after work, I got stuck into the beers. I didn’t always want one, but I felt I needed one. That need for one became two, three, became ten. By my early forties, drinking had overtaken my life.”
This story features Matty Tonkin – farmer and family man – from North Star in rural New South Wales. This powerful video testimonial was recorded for Shanna's Australian of the Year, Local Hero award win in 2022.
PLAY MATTY’S TESTIMONIAL
Want more?
If you’d like to watch videos of our founder and CEO, Shanna Whan (AM) ...
who got this all started by sharing her own story – an unfiltered, inspiring tale of struggles and success – that’s resonated with people all around Australia, head here.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NEXT?
