The Pandaemonium Paper

ISSUE 16 | I’ve always loved horses, never been that fond of snakes.  Maybe that says more about temperament than it does about the Chinese zodiac, but the symbolism feels hard to ignore as we move into the year of the fire horse.  But as we charge into the year of the horse, I’m giving the assumed energy that it brings a crack [it turns out I’m really going to need it]  It is forward-leaning and restless, less interested in perfection than progress. Horse energy is about momentum, about choosing motion over paralysis and trusting that direction can be adjusted once you’re moving.  But what does any of this have to do with this issue of the newspaper you may ask, well let me tell you.  That sense of renewed movement and reinvention runs through this issue in an insistent way, with a renewed confidence that forward is still the right direction.  It’s found in our coverage of bushfire recovery, framed not around catastrophe, but around what happens next.   It’s found in Alys Marshall’s columns about returning to the family farm as a trained journalist and trainee farmer.  It’s found in Daniel Mortimer’s reinvention after a career as a professional footballer and why the unconventional move into winemaking was just the right fit for him.  It’s found in Mike Terry’s photographic essay, pushing the boundaries of his craft with a couple of disposable cameras and a helicopter.  It’s found in the ninety-six years of Nita Pearce’s life. And in so many of the other stories throughout. It’s found in the future of Australia’s live export trade.   The world seems to be quite the scary and uncertain place at the moment, but with uncertainty and hardship comes opportunity and reward. I think that’s what all of this snake and horse business is all about.  I hope you enjoy this body of work we have so lovingly created for you, the progressive thinker. Alice Armitage Published & Managing Editor P.S All you need to do to have the paper delivered to your door is to subscribe! [link in our bio]

A bunch of cool country artists have given us 42 pieces of art to give to you! And we’ve made it super simple, all you have to do to go in the running to take one of these beauties home is to subscribe to the paper. We’ve lined up an all star cast for you, and there really is something to suit everyone’s taste. So how is this going to run? Each day we’ll be featuring an artist, and revealing the work they’ve donated to this extravaganza! You’ll then have until Saturday the 11th of April to subscribe to go in the draw to win each piece. 👾being a digital or print subscriber will give you 1 entry. 👾being a patron subscriber will give you 3 entries. 👾being a founding father subscriber will give you 6 entries. It’s quite ironic that I’ve been working on this project for almost six months and it’s launching on the eve of this weeks series of unfortunate events, so never fear if you’re re-subscribing you’ll also automatically be going in the draw! We’ll share more about the artwork selection process as this series unfolds, in the meantime enjoy these remarkable works and get those subscriptions sorted!

last week I made a mistake and accidentally cancelled everyone’s subscriptions to the paper. 
It’s extremely distressing, very humbling and quite terrifying to share with you that I’ve been unsuccessful in my plight to have them restored.  There is no dramatic villain here, just the uncomfortable reality that when you run a small business, an independent publication, the buck stops very squarely with yourself.  I know. It’s far from ideal.  But in this family, everything is figure-out-able, we don’t quit, we can do hard things – like rebuilding four years of blood, sweat and tears I guess. So here I am, asking [begging] you all to please resubscribe.  From the beginning our subscribers haven’t just been our readers, but also major contributors to what makes it financially possible for us to exist.  Without you, there is no Pandaemonium. If you think the work we do is important. If we’ve ever meant something to you. If the paper has ever made you feel seen, connected, inspired, challenged or at times given you a giggle, I would be enormously grateful for your support as I face this wobbly chapter.   Now, to some housekeeping.  It is February so there is a fresh issue due to be shipped out. Whether you choose to resubscribe or not, if you had an active subscription before this series of unfortunate events there is still a paper on its way to you. We now just have some added logistical hurdles and it’s just going to take me a moment to figure that out. So thank you for being patient with me.  If you have any questions or need any help please don’t hesitate to reach out – I’d love to hear from you.

Introduction A Place to Call Home x The Pandaemonium Paper Ag Innovation Series!

Over the next six weeks we’ll be sharing editorial, podcasts and video interviews in your feed exploring all things innovation. We’re diving into what’s working, what’s not, why do we struggle to adopt and implement change and how do we all help the industry move forward. To kick things off, Sam & Alice sat down and recorded a podcast episode to share they’re perspectives and experiences of innovation across the Australian agricultural industry and to give you a little more insight into how this series will come together. You’ll find that episode in the Place to Call Home podcast feed first thing tomorrow morning. Let’s dive in!

We’d love to hear from you!

Fancy a little Sunday night treat? Subscribe to the paper in the next 24 hours and automatically be upgraded to a patron subscription - including a limited edition photographic print!

Saturday morning paper in style @p.andaemonium

When the Fire Came | Part 07 | James Draffin On 9 January, while facing a catastrophic fire, Skipton locals formed the first line of defence with more than 120 private fire fighting tankers. In the weeks that followed, volunteers turned every resource at their disposal into the scaffolding of recovery. This is a story about what a country community can endure, and what it takes to rebuild. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews of remarkable people from the community. You’ll also find the full editorial in the most recent issue of the paper, and yes if you subscribe now you will still be sent a copy!

Plight of the Country Lawyer | Part 03 Not so long ago, the idea of calling a lawyer felt like something you put off for as long as possible. Too expensive, too complicated, too far removed from the realities of everyday life. But the real question is not whether you can afford good advice, but whether you can afford to go without it. At its core, legal work in regional Australia is not about courtrooms or clever arguments. It is about people. It is about families trying to protect what they have built, farmers navigating succession, business owners making decisions that will ripple across generations. And when those decisions are left too late, or made without the right guidance, the cost is rarely just financial. It shows up in fractured relationships, lost opportunities, and legacies that do not quite make it across the line. In a recent column, Paul Williams of Roberts + Morrow reflects on what it means to practise law in the country. Not as an outsider looking in, but as someone embedded in the same communities he serves. His argument is a simple one. The earlier you bring the right people into your corner, the better the outcome tends to be. It is a subtle reframing of what legal advice can be. � You can read the full piece now on our website and you’ll find it featured in today’s weekly email newsletter. [The contents of this article are for general information only and is not intended as professional advice. Roberts + Morrow expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information provided in this article.]

Plight of the Country Lawyer | Part 02 Not so long ago, the idea of calling a lawyer felt like something you put off for as long as possible. Too expensive, too complicated, too far removed from the realities of everyday life. But the real question is not whether you can afford good advice, but whether you can afford to go without it. At its core, legal work in regional Australia is not about courtrooms or clever arguments. It is about people. It is about families trying to protect what they have built, farmers navigating succession, business owners making decisions that will ripple across generations. And when those decisions are left too late, or made without the right guidance, the cost is rarely just financial. It shows up in fractured relationships, lost opportunities, and legacies that do not quite make it across the line. In a recent column, Paul Williams of Roberts + Morrow reflects on what it means to practise law in the country. Not as an outsider looking in, but as someone embedded in the same communities he serves. His argument is a simple one. The earlier you bring the right people into your corner, the better the outcome tends to be. It is a subtle reframing of what legal advice can be. � You can read the full piece now on our website and you’ll find it featured in this weeks email newsletter. [The contents of this article are for general information only and is not intended as professional advice. Roberts + Morrow expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information provided in this article.]

Plight of the Country Lawyer | Part 01 Not so long ago, the idea of calling a lawyer felt like something you put off for as long as possible. Too expensive, too complicated, too far removed from the realities of everyday life. But the real question is not whether you can afford good advice, but whether you can afford to go without it. At its core, legal work in regional Australia is not about courtrooms or clever arguments. It is about people. It is about families trying to protect what they have built, farmers navigating succession, business owners making decisions that will ripple across generations. And when those decisions are left too late, or made without the right guidance, the cost is rarely just financial. It shows up in fractured relationships, lost opportunities, and legacies that do not quite make it across the line. In a recent column, Paul Williams of Roberts + Morrow reflects on what it means to practise law in the country. Not as an outsider looking in, but as someone embedded in the same communities he serves. His argument is a simple one. The earlier you bring the right people into your corner, the better the outcome tends to be. It is a subtle reframing of what legal advice can be. 
 You can read the full piece now on our website and you’ll find it featured in today’s weekly email newsletter. [The contents of this article are for general information only and is not intended as professional advice. Roberts + Morrow expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information provided in this article.]

When the Fire Came | Part 06 | James Draffin On 9 January, while facing a catastrophic fire, Skipton locals formed the first line of defence with more than 120 private fire fighting tankers. In the weeks that followed, volunteers turned every resource at their disposal into the scaffolding of recovery. This is a story about what a country community can endure, and what it takes to rebuild. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews of remarkable people from the community. You’ll also find the full editorial in the most recent issue of the paper, and yes if you subscribe now you will still be sent a copy!