This week marks the first anniversary of dairy farmer Bruce Manintveld's death.
Formerly of Lardner, the Mirboo North farmer was tragically killed in the horrific storm that hit the town on February 13, 2024.
In its annual calendar that captures the stories of Gippsland farmers, Gippsland Jersey features Bruce's wife, Fiona Baker, on its February month as a tribute to their farming story.
Fiona, who is known across West Gippsland for her work as a beef extension officer with Agriculture Victoria, shares her "story of love, loss and resilience."
This is the calendar's tribute:
On that fateful day, Bruce was racing against the weather to bring his beloved Jersey cows into the milking shed, unaware of the size of the storm about to hit, when a large section of shed roof, torn loose by the storm, struck him fatally. Fiona found Bruce and performed CPR for about 25 minutes until help arrived, but the coroner's report confirmed Bruce had died instantly from the impact.
Bruce was known as a "ripping bloke" and a farmer at the top of his game. He loved his cows, his work, and the land, and he was respected by everyone who knew him. Friends and family described him as generous and deeply committed to his craft— he was born to dairy farm despite his type one diabetes and the challenges he navigated living with the illness.
Bruce and Fiona had built their dairy operation together, sharing a passion for the industry and a life shaped by hard work and love.
In the aftermath of Bruce's death, Fiona faced the daunting reality of continuing alone. Recognising that farming had always been their shared journey, she made the heart-wrenching decision to leave the farm, knowing she couldn't bear to stay without him. After all, dairy farming had been Bruce's dream, and without him, it didn't feel the same.
Fiona moved to Leongatha, closer to community support, where she wouldn't have to face the isolation of the farm. In those early, devastating days, neighbours and friends stepped in —helping milk the cows, caring for the herd, and making and gently guiding decisions on Fiona's behalf until she was ready.
Each day, she continued to milk and look after the cows as part of the painful recovery process. Fiona remains deeply grateful for the kindness that surrounded her during that time and admits most of it was a blur, a lifeline through the overwhelming grief.
Fiona's path to healing has been challenging, marked by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder triggered by storms and the difficulty of accessing mental health support in rural areas. She has sought counselling to help process her trauma and grief.
Each storm brings a painful reminder of that tragic day, yet Fiona persists, taking each day as it comes. Bruce always just got on and played the cards he was dealt without complaint and Fiona uses this legacy as she moves forward, honouring Bruce's memory through resilience and self-care.
She continues to work in beef extension with Agriculture Victoria, a role with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, where the routine provides stability and purpose.
"This February, we remember Bruce and honour Fiona's strength, paying tribute to the resilience of Gippsland's farming families who face both the beauty and hardships of life on the land. Through their story, we reflect on the importance of community and the power of simply "showing up" for those experiencing tragedy—don't wait to be asked, just show up and lend a hand."
The annual calendar features the stories of 12 brave Gippsland dairy farmers who step outside their comfort zone to share their personal health story.
The calendar serves as a starting point towards breaking down the stigma attached to mental health in our rural communities.
Calendars are distributed to all dairy farms in Gippsland with help of the major milk companies and used as a tool for any farmer suffering mental health struggles. The calendar includes help numbers to health services available and lived testimonies.
This year's calendar features the stories of a number of West Gippsland farmers including: David Miller of Athlone, Janette James of Drouin, Peter and Fran Langley of Labertouche, Dean Turner of Lang Lang and Theo Bradley of Drouin West.
The calendars are available through the Gippsland Jersey website.