Women Who Work With Camels - Celebrating International Women's Day

Being “Pretty” isn’t our aim in life... #WomenWorkWithCamels Celebrating International Women’s Day.

 

There are SO many inspiring Camel loving ladies in this world doing amazing things with camels, whether that be trekking across a continent, setting up camel non-for-profits, using camel's for therapy, dedicating time to share camel stories or experiences... ALL of this is to be celebrated. 

 

 

This article is about shining a spotlight on Women Who Work With Camels. Read their inspiring & versatile stories below.

 

 

The theme for INWD 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge

 

 

This is NOT about ‘pushing’ men to the side in order to lift women up. It’s about equality for pay, rights and not making stereotypical assumptions towards women.

 

 

So in light of this theme I (Tara) have gathered just some (!) stories of the Women Who Work With Camels.

They will share their challenges faced from from stereo types and or assumptions that have been made because they work with camels ~ as a woman.

 

 

You are going to LOVE these stories!

 

 

To help create awareness please share this blog and or social posts to create awareness of #INWD2020 and #WomenWhoWorkWithCamels 

 

 

Are you ready to read some incredible stories of Women Who Work With Camels....!?

 

Sally Millard... Ain’t No Mountain High Enough...

First story off the ranks for the  #WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign in celebration of International Women’s Day is Sally Millard... Ain’t No Mountain High Enough...

 

 

My name’s Sal...& I’m a 47 year old determined & pigheaded sheila!!...oh yeah, & Australia’s only female running Camel Therapy programs!!

 

 

I’d be wealthy if I had a dollar for every time I heard “No”...or “Impossible”...I took that as a personal challenge! Fought our local council for nearly 3 years & was pretty much mentally & financially broken & on the brink of suicide, after losing out with them. Then a gift literally from the heavens came, in the form of Fr. Bob Maguire. Now doors are opening, things are happening...& we never gave up!! Where there is your will & knowledge your dream will work, there’s a way. 

 

 

There’s more than one path to a destination...there’ll be potholes & detours, but never stop.

 

 

I’m living the dream of helping people over the HUMP of life when everyone laughed...& now it’s only me laughing!! Anything’s possible if you have determination...& red wine!!☺️❤️🐪 🍷 

 

 

Follow Sally >> Instagram/Facebook @fr.bobs.lourdes.camel.sanctuary

 

 

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Woman in a “Man’s World...” Featuring Sophie Matterson....

Outback Australia has long been a mans world; and camels as an animal most often found in outback regions has traditionally been an industry dominated by men.

 

But this is changing.

 

These days it appears more and more women are wanting to work with camels.

 

Of the several camel companies I have worked for, the work force has been predominantly women. To work with camels you do need a certain amount of grit. They are large animals, some of which come from the wild, that can definitely be dangerous at times.

 

For me, the women I have worked for in the camel industry have been powerful role models of strengths and tenacity. At the same time, I have also found the men that I have worked with to be nothing but encouraging and supportive.

 

What I appreciate most is that even though I am a young woman, they have always encouraged me to get in there and do things for myself, whether thats working wild camels through the race, medicating, training, saddlery or driving machinery and using power tools. Rather than do the job for you, I think that the most empowering gift for women is to be given the tools and knowledge to be able to do it for yourself!

 

Follow Sophie >> @sophiematterson

 

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What I (Tara) have personally witnessed that Women bring a certain type of ‘magic’ with them when they work with camels. I watch women offer a different ‘gift’ to the camel they come in contact with wether they are training, riding, trekking or cuddling.

 

90% of our students of Camel Connecting Training & our Academy are... Women! 

 

It’s amazing to think that they too are busting through the glass ceiling and following their passion despite that the past of, a majority, male lead industry.

 

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My success came from my willpower and my determination...Featuring Michelle Phillips...

My success came from my willpower and my determination...Featuring Michelle Phillips...

 

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Michelle’s story...

 

Six years ago I was told I was crazy to start a dairy let alone one with camels. Ha! Only days ago we won our second gold medal 🥇 from the Royal Sydney Cheese and Produce awards.

 

I may not have achieved this all by myself but these are ‘my’ dreams, my aspirations and my own drive and desire to make this work.

 

I love and adore my husband and the countless hours picking up bales off the paddocks in the wee hours, fixing fences and cooking dinner 🍴 when I’m out working the humps 🐪. His play in my crazy ideas are vital, but setting these coggs in motion come from my willpower and determination 💪🏻

 

Follow Michelle >> Camel Milk NSW & Hunter Valley Camels

 

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Sometimes you just HAVE to be strong headed...Featuring Tamar Valkenier

Sometimes you just HAVE to be strong headed...Featuring Tamar Valkenier.

 

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Tamar’s story...

 

I bought my first camel when travelling through Mongolia. He was huge, like a dinosaur, had two humps, one falling to the left, one to the right, skewed teeth, was over 20 years old and had a lovely soft caracter. I fell in love straight away. The eagle hunters in the area taught me how to pack and handle the camel the way they are used to, unchanged for centuries, since the heydays of their hero Chingghis Kahn.

 

My camel had an old wound from a previous nosepeg that was infected and I asked every nomad I found to have a look at it. 'No problem, just leave it', was the reaction time over time and they would take the leadrope out of my hands to tie my camel up so we could have tea. That was more important.

 

At the so manieth rejection to help, my travel companion Lynnea and I managed to remove the traditional nosepeg without the help of nomads and replaced it with a halter.

 

We hobbled his legs and pulled the rope tight over his neck, so he wouldnt be able to get up. Lynnea, about 1.65 cm and 60 kilos, held his head with all her force, while I used a pair of tweezers to pull out 23 maggots 🐛 We cleaned the wound and it healed within days.

 

The 1.85 cm, 95 kilo nomad man was looking at us in disbelief. Two girls, travelling with two horses, two camels and two dogs through the Altai mountains of Mongolia, keeping animal welfare decisions in our own hands.

 

Though local nomads in many occasions ought to be listened to, sometimes you have to be headstrong. They just cannot possibly love your camel as much as you do. 💜 🐫 💜

 

Follow Tamar >> www.tamarvalkenier.com

Facebook: tamar valkenier

Instagram: @tamarvalkenier

 

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Without wind the trees aren’t strong .... Featuring Alison Bird....

Without wind the trees aren’t strong 🌳 .... Featuring Alison Bird....

 

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Alison's story...

 

When I saw my first camel ever, I fell in love straight away.... and he loved me back just as much! I was working on a cattle Station when the neighbouring Station accidentally mustered in this camel with the cattle. I went to have a look and the rest is history!

 

Now I own x30 camels 🐪 whom I love very much!

 

Living in the Outback Pilbara region of Western Australia for 7 years, trekking first with one camel and then 2 more, was both challenging and rewarding. I had no idea about training wild camels but fortunately my first camel trained me just as much as I trained him! We had a special rapport between us.

 

I have always loved the Outback and have painted landscapes most of my life so this is how I made a living while I was out trekking. I sold more paintings while I was out there then I have before or since.

 

Coming back to civilisation was a bit of a shock for me, but by birthing and building my camel ride business has enabled me to transission and relearn to relate to humans again and not just my camels.

 

There have been many challenges along the way but I always remember that without the wind the trees would not be strong.

 

My love of camels has enabled me to be one of three camel ride operators in Broome Western Australia and the first and only woman owned & operated camel ride business in the region.

 

Follow Alison >> Broome Camel Safaris

 

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Makes me sensitive for my weakness & strengths .... Featuring Jenny Kunterbunt....

Makes me sensitive for my weakness & strengths .... Featuring Jenny Kunterbunt....

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Jenny’s story...

 

I received my first camel kiss from a camel called Tanamite in 2016 while camel trekking in Australia. This gigantic head came close up to me and just took deep breath in and out.

 

I would have never imagined how this moment would change my life. I got addicted to the healthiest drug in life: Camels!

 

I visited several camel countries since my time in Australia. Explored the European Camel World & was lucky enough to move to #fleckschnupphof in 2019. I started my own camel trekking business #hoeckerhontas & am the 1. chairwoman for Therapiekamel e.V. which is supporting the therapeutic work with camels.

 

It's not always easy to combine my passion to camels, which includes lots hard work and my female side. Some people cant understand why it makes me happy to clean the fields, work in bad weather & sometimes struggle while training. BUT - Being with camels calms me down, makes me sensitive for my weakness & strengths & offered me an insight into a world of new cultures.

 

Being a woman that works with camels might be easier and more common in western countries.

 

I often felt like cameleers from India, Mongolia, Marocco where a bit surprise by my real interest for these animals. If course a lot of women fall in love with their beauty and soul, but to have a knowledge about handling so as to study them, surprised some nomads that I visited.

 

Being out of the tourist box while explored camel cultures, helped me to get in touch with locals. My camel passion helped me to step into new cultures - as cameleers always turned into the most hospitable friends all over the world. Love just always connects!!!!

 

Follow Jenny >> @jennykunterbunt 

@hoeckerhontas

 

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My capabilities as a female camel vet have been doubted many times....Featuring Betsy Mijares from Mexico

My capabilities as a female camel vet have been doubted many times....Featuring Betsy Mijares from Mexico.

 

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Bets’s story...

 

My name is Betsy Mijares and I am a veterinarian from Mexico and I have been working with camels for 3 years now.

 

Being a Camel vet it has been very challenging because people don’t believe in your capacity of healing a big animal.

 

Most of the questions asked by my workers are "Are you afraid of camels?" and I always answer "no, camels should be afraid of me", this is how I deal with coments of that kind. But at the same time I think I'm very lucky since camels are rare in Mexico and I had the chance to work in such a splendid specie and every day I learn more and more about them.

 

At the begining of my career with Bactrians and Dromedaries, I had to proove my skills and knowldege but now people in my job are confident with my work. In fact, One of my cameleers apologised because according to him "I didn't trust in you because you are a woman, but now I can see you are better than any camel vet that I met".

 

Of course I am not the best, but I know I want to keep working and learning everything about camels and this type of coments encourage me to become a better vet.

 

Follow Betsy on Instagram >>> @La_enfermedad_de_la_brujula

 

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I was fortunate I had other women already in the industry setting the example, so it was never a question of could a woman do it, but could I myself do it...... Featuring Lizzie Bennett....

I was fortunate I had other women already in the industry setting the example, so it was never a question of could a woman do it, but could I myself do it...... Featuring Lizzie Bennett....

 

 #WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Lizzie’s story...

 

My name's Liz and camels were never part of the game plan...my partner and I changed career paths a few years back, wanting to get into agriculture and came across camels purely by chance. I had zero experience--never milked a cow, let alone a camel!--and I'd be a liar if I said it wasn't daunting. I've had to learn a lot!

 

It’s very much been a life changing experience: there's something magic in being nose to nose with a camel, knowing she's as comfortable in your space as you are in hers. Knowing she trusts you.

 

If someone asked me four years ago would I ever milk camels I would have said they're crazy! But I love what I do and couldn't imagine anything different. Even if it wasn't exactly part of the plan!

 

I was fortunate I had other women already in the industry setting the example, so it was never a question of could a woman do it, but could I myself do it. And proving that to myself more than anything. Which can be incredibly scary when it's not something I've done before--my background is in libraries, I have a degree in English Lit--but I'm rather proud of the fact that I can get in and do what I do with the camels.

 

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Through working with camels not working ON them I have been able to forge a career with meaning and purpose....Featuring Margie Bale.....

Through working with camels not working ON them I have been able to forge a career with meaning and purpose....Featuring Margie Bale.....

 

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s Margie Bale’s story...

 

I have been a mixed practice vet for 25 years . The last 5 I have dedicated to Camel Medicine and surgery in Australia and Overseas.

 

I choose to deal with these wonderful animals because they are a perfect example of how size doesn’t matter! They respond to understanding rather than control.

 

If I need to get closer I just use a ladder, if I need more strength I just set up the ropes and pulleys. Through working with them not working ON them I have been able to forge a career with meaning and purpose. That’s all I could ever ask for.

 

Follow Margie >> @balegram

 

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"Time To Step up".... Featuring Tara Lea....

#WomenWhoWorkWithCamels campaign is a celebration for International Women’s Day....Here’s my story...

 

As a business, camel owner & operator I’ve had all the ‘assumptions’ that I’m just the person behind the scenes doing all the administrative work (and looking after kids) & my life/biz partner does the actual ‘work.’

 

Interestingly enough, most these assumptions come from women!

 

It makes me realise that the work of feminism & #EachForEqual is not done yet.

 

Girls are still taught to look nice, play nice and be nice, don't be loud & don't be "Too ambitious." The fact is that Adult women earn less, are heard less and are the most assumed for certain ‘female’ roles.

 

It also made me realise that I had to ‘wake up & step up’ for women across the globe. I had to start being more visible ~ despite any ‘imperfections’ (and spelling errors ;- ).

 

I have to step out and share the gifts, abilities & knowledge I have with/about camels & all my other life experiences.

 

NOT sharing would be selfish and isn’t helping anyone!

 

I’ve been judged, critiqued, told I’m “too big for my boots”, people trying to shut down our biz with rumours, even bullied about showing up as who I am - imperfect & as a woman - All this mostly BY other women (few men).

 

I don’t believe we are all ‘sisters’ & that we should support ALL women like we’re all the same...

 

There are simply some other women I’ll never support & love due to differences in life values & ethics, but that doesn’t mean they too don’t belong.

 

As hard as things might seem sometimes, I’m inspired by the women who came before me, it was MUCH harder for them...! And if we do our job right, step up, speak up, be ourselves unapologetic... It will be less hard for the women who come after us (our daughters, nieces, friends, etc...)

 

I believe THIS generation is better placed to achieve gender equality than any other in the history of humanity. This is our opportunity to grasp the #EachForEqual

 

Happy International Women’s Day!

 

We’ve got this 💪🏻