Conversations Drought, depression and asking for help—how an Outback farmer found peace in the ocean
Mar 2, 2026
Brendan Cullen, an Outback sheep station manager and author of The Desert Swimmer, recovered from severe depression and childhood trauma through long-distance open-water swims. He talks about life on a remote station, the toll of drought and isolation, learning to swim and training for the English Channel, and how swimming became a tool for wellbeing and community fundraising.
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Go To A Clinic When Alarm Bells Ring
- Ask for help early and use available services; Brendan first reached out after an RFDS life skills clinic flagged alarm signs.
- He walked into Broken Hill Base Hospital, said I just need some help, and was diagnosed with depression on the spot.
Regenerate The Top Paddock
- Diagnosis plus deliberate lifestyle changes created recovery: antidepressants helped but Brendan rebuilt his life by cutting workload 50% and prioritising family.
- A friend warned he'd miss his kids if he didn't slow down, prompting a family-first rule.
Bondi To Bronte Spark
- Brendan learned open water swimming after watching brother Lachlan at Bondi to Bronte, starting with fear of sharks and competitive spur when Lachlan sprinted off.
- That moment led him to commit to regular swimming and races.
