In this episode we continue the conversation with Gab Toscan and Michael Dennis from Breakwater Insurance, shifting the focus to the practical realities of insurance inside a dairy business.

This part of the chat dives deeper into the insurable risks dairy farmers face day-to-day — including employment, business continuity, and how events like fire and flood can impact a business beyond the immediate damage. Gab and Michael share real-world examples from working alongside dairy farmers, highlighting why insurance can feel expensive when it's not clearly understood, but becomes invaluable when it's set up with intention and paired with a practical plan.

The conversation also builds on the role of Dairy Protect, a dairy-focused insurance project designed to make insurance work for dairy farmers through specialist brokers who understand the pressures, complexity, and pace of running a dairy operation.

This episode was made in partnership with Dairy Protect and Cream of the Crop.

Contact details:

• Website: https://www.dairyprotect.com.au

• Phone: 1300 063 888

• Instagram: @dairyprotect

Disclaimer:

This episode provides general information only and does not constitute financial product or other advice. The information does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and review the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any decisions. Information is current as at the date of recording and may be subject to change. A copy of the Financial Services Guide (FSG) is available at dairyprotect.com.au.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website for all of the details.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Gab Toscan and Michael Dennis from Breakwater Insurance are working closely with dairy farmers and share what they've learned from supporting businesses through challenging moments — and why dairy insurance isn't always as simple as a set-and-forget farm pack. The conversation introduces Dairy Protect, a dairy-specific approach to insurance advice, and explores the difference between general and personalised advice, along with the questions worth asking so you genuinely understand your cover.

The conversation continues in Part 2 with a deeper dive into insurable risks within a dairy business, including employment, continuity cover, and navigating natural disasters such as flood and fire.

This episode was made in partnership with Dairy Protect, Breakwater Insurance, and Cream of the Crop. Dairy Protect exists to make insurance work for dairy farmers, through a team of specialist brokers who understand the unique risks, pressures, and complexities of running a dairy operation. To speak with one of our brokers, connect with us on socials through @dairyprotect, visit our website at dairyprotect.com.au or give us a call on 1300 063 888.

Disclaimer:

This episode provides factual information rather than financial product or other advice. The information contained in this episode, has been prepared without taking into account any personal objectives, financial situations or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of the information, taking these matters into account, before you act on any information. In particular, you should review the product disclosure statement for any product the information relates to before acquiring the product. Information is current as at the date of recording but is subject to change. We cannot make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information.

To obtain advice on how this information does impact your personal circumstances, or to obtain a copy of the PDS for any of the products referred to, please reach out to Dairy Protect on 1300 063 888 to speak to a broker. A copy of the Financial Services Guide (FSG) can also be found at dairyprotect.com.au

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website for all of the details for our 2026 Conference

In this episode of the More than Milk podcast, Chloe sits down with Rachel Nicholson, a dairy farmer based on Jones Island on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Rachel shares her experience of farming on a floodplain, including the impact of major flood events in 2021 and again in 2025, and what those seasons revealed about resilience, risk, and the strength of the dairy community. She reflects on how community support became critical to keeping their business going, with farmers and industry stepping in when it mattered most.

This conversation also explores capacity and mental load in dairy farming — knowing when you can't carry everything at once, and why rebuilding mental health has to sit alongside rebuilding farm infrastructure. Rachel speaks openly about juggling farming, family, and community leadership, and the importance of recognising personal limits for long-term sustainability.

Rachel also shares how creativity and art have become a way to process difficult experiences, stay connected to dairy, and find beauty through challenging seasons. It's an honest, grounded conversation about community, self-awareness, and the many different ways people contribute to the dairy industry.

This episode will resonate with dairy farmers, agricultural families, and anyone navigating change, pressure, and connection within rural communities.

If you'd like to follow along or check out any of her artwork - use the handle @ghinni_ghinni_studio on Instagram.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.