Wundy’s Wake-Up Call – A Farmer’s Reminder to Look After Number One

Abbie Tiller

A message to fellow farmers –  “you service your machines – don’t forget to service yourself”

If you’ve ever met Yorke Peninsula farmer Ben Wundersitz – or “Wundy” as he’s known  – you’ll know he’s not one for fuss. He runs Anna Binna, a 6,500-hectare cropping operation at Maitland, and like many farmers, he knows how to work hard, fix what’s broken, and push through whatever’s thrown his way.

But these days, Wundy’s got another message for his mates on the land – “look after yourself”.

He’s just had a skin cancer cut off his nose – a basal cell carcinoma. Nothing glamorous. Just another job that needed doing.

“I call it my annual inspection. About the same time I service the air seeder, I try and get myself serviced too.”

For Wundy, that means a yearly skin check. It’s not over the top – it’s just smart. “I saw my grandfather with most of his ears missing through skin cancer,” he says. “This new generation of farmers has got to be proactive in looking after themselves.”

And it’s not just about skin checks. It’s about the bigger picture – physical and mental health. Because farming doesn’t stop. And neither does stress.

Wundy knows this better than most. He’s one of the founding members of Fat Farmers – a grassroots movement that kicked off when a couple of blokes decided to swap the pub for the gym, and quickly realised it did more than just get the blood pumping.

“In Australia, the go-to way of socialising has always been catching up over a couple of beers,” Wundy says. “That’s fine now and then, but it doesn’t always help. Getting together to exercise – that’s a win-win.”

Right now, with South Australia facing its worst drought on record, the need for connection and resilience has never been greater.

“Last year broke all rainfall records, and this year’s been even worse,” Wundy says. “It’s soul-destroying. We had a recent tragedy in the South East which really brings home the shocking reality that rural people are facing. It’s fucking real. People are hurting.”

The Fat Farmers initiative now stretches across SA, Victoria, New South Wales and is about to kick of in Western Australia. It’s a chance for farmers to connect through fitness, and through conversation. From a big contingent of Fat Farmers taking on the City to Bay each year, to local gym sessions, it’s built a sense of community that’s saving lives.

“Most farmers say they haven’t got time to exercise – but when you’re cardio fit, you get more done, think more clearly, and you’re a better person to be around. You get more time with your family, and you’ll probably live longer.”

He’s no elite athlete. A few years back, his wife Belinda told him he was snoring. He went for a sleep apnea test.

“It wasn’t sleep apnea,” he laughs. “The doc just said, you need to lose some weight.”

So he did. Slowly. A bit of exercise here, a tweak to the diet there. And before long, he felt better. More energy. Less puffing. “Now I can keep up with the crew on the farm. Shovelling lentils, I can match it with anyone.”

It’s not about being the fittest in the room. It’s about sticking around – for your family, your farm, and yourself.

So this is Wundy’s message to fellow farmers –  you service your machines – don’t forget to service yourself.

Book the skin check. Get moving. And if you’re feeling the pressure, reach out. Because looking after yourself isn’t soft – it’s smart. And it might just save your life.

You can find out more about Fat Farmers here.