At Fleurieu Milk Company, we believe some conversations are too important to ignore. One in five Australians is currently living with a mental health issue and nearly half of us will experience one at some point in our lives.
It’s something we should be talking about more often. That’s why we’ve partnered with X Convenience and Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation to help get those conversations started over something as simple as a shared iced coffee.
From April 7 to May 6, you can grab two 500ml Fleurieu Milk iced coffees for $6.50 at any X Convenience store across South Australia. Each one comes with a purple lid and helps support Breakthrough’s important work in mental health research. It’s gives people a reason to check in with someone because a shared coffee can open the door to a meaningful conversation.
This campaign is close to home for Fleurieu Milk Company. Barry Clarke better known as Bazz is one of our directors and a dairy farmer at Roslyn Vale. He knows how important it is to find ways to reset when things get heavy.
“For me, if things start to get on top of me a bit, I head out to the paddock and hang out with the girls. It’s calming for me. The cows are always happy and it’s simple,” Bazz says. Sometimes it’s those little routines that help the most.
Bazz also makes sure to reach out to other farmers. “I like to keep in touch with all the farmers. It’s not always easy to get much out of people but checking in matters.” He believes even a quick chat can make a real difference, especially where some people might be doing it tough but don’t always speak up.
His advice? “Just talk to someone. Just ask. I know it’s easier said than done but just have a chat with someone. Even your partner, or someone you don’t really know. You don’t have to go into depth it’s just a start.”
To capture those conversations, John Mannion, CEO of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, visited the farm and sat down with Bazz to talk about mental health, farming, and why simple check-ins really matter. It wasn’t scripted—just real.
At Fleurieu Milk Company, we prioritise mental health awareness. Thanks to the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, a senior team member from each department has completed Mental Health First Aid Training.
We’ve also integrated mental health training into our onboarding process for all new team members, ensuring they are equipped to support each other. It is our goal for everyone, whether they’re packing yoghurt, loading trucks, or leading a team—to feel safe and supported.
Looking ahead, we’re planning a relaxed dinner with our farmers, hosted by Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation just good food, connection, and a chance to talk about mental health in a safe, friendly space. Because conversations don’t always have to be serious to be meaningful.
This campaign is about looking out for each other. At Fleurieu Milk Company, everything starts with our people. The farmers, the factory crew, the drivers. They’re the ones behind the scenes, keeping it all moving.
It’s easy to stay busy, keep your head down and push through. But sometimes the most important thing you can do is slow down and check in. On your mates, your family, or yourself.
An iced coffee and a quick chat won’t fix everything. But it might be the start of something that helps.
