296: Ellen Fitzgerald on Unimaginable Loss, Motherhood & the Rural Childcare Crisis

Ellen Fitzgerald is a mum of three living on a cattle property northwest of Longreach. Like so many rural mothers, her days are full… raising children, running a business, and building a life on the land alongside her husband. But recently, Ellen has found herself in a position she never expected… becoming an accidental advocate for rural families. Right now, Ellen’s family (like many in remote areas) is facing the very real possibility of losing the in-home childcare they rely on, with current support systems not extending to families in her situation, making it increasingly unaffordable. I invited Ellen on the podcast to talk about this issue — and we did, but along the way I uncovered a much deeper story. Ellen’s journey to motherhood has been shaped by profound loss — from losing her own mum at just 21, to experiencing 4 miscarriages in a row, and then the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Adelaide. And still, she kept going. This is her story. A warning, this episode discussed multiple pregnancy losses including termination. If you need support: Red Nose Grief & Loss: 24/7 Support Line 1300 308 307 PANDA helpline: 1300 726 306 Mums Matter is a bulk-billed psychology service, supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and the journey of motherhood. Mums Matter offers compassionate, evidence-based psychology via telehealth, so you can speak with a specialist from the comfort of your home. Visit mumsmatterpsychology.com to learn more or book a telehealth appointment.

You can listen to 296: Ellen Fitzgerald on Unimaginable Loss, Motherhood & the Rural Childcare Crisis online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

296: Ellen Fitzgerald on Unimaginable Loss, Motherhood & the Rural Childcare Crisis is an episode from Motherland Australia by Stephanie Trethewey.

This episode is 60:33 long.

This episode was published on Apr 26, 2026.

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