Sonia Buckley Podcast on being Sonia Buckley!

Join host Eddie the Chef for an extraordinary conversation with Sonia Buckley, Deputy Mayor of East Gippsland Shire and seventh-generation High Country resident. From mountain cattleman heritage to creative director, from singer-songwriter to political advocate, Sonia's journey embodies the resilient spirit of rural Australia while charting a bold path toward sustainable regional leadership.

Sonia Buckley is a fifth-generation High Country resident from Benambra who now runs Buckley's High Country Adventures, a retreat property on the Mita Mita River where she farms cattle and horses. Recently elected Deputy Mayor in December 2024, she is serving her second term as councillor through 2028.

1.Heritage & Identity: The weight and gift of seven generations of High Country living
2.Practical Conservation: Finding middle-ground solutions that honor both environment and culture
3.Resilience & Courage: Learning from a father who never quit fighting for what was right
4.Political Service: The reality of local government work and civic duty
5.Cultural Preservation: Protecting mountain heritage and storytelling before it's lost
6.Work-Life Balance: The struggle to maintain personal identity while serving publicly
7.Lateral Thinking: Bush living teaches problem-solving that applies to politics
8.Strategic Partnerships: The power of bringing stakeholders together
9.Intuition & Integrity: Trusting your compass while treating everyone with respect
10.Community & Connection: The healing power of deep friendships and culture

About East Gippsland
Throughout the conversation, Sonia paints a vivid picture of East Gippsland as:
•God's country—a natural plateau at the top of mountains
•Home to untapped beauty, adventures, snow, rivers, and "decent farming folk"
•A region with deep Indigenous and first-settler cultural history
•Growing ecotourism hub (Omeo mountain biking, equine tourism)
•A community of "real characters" with unique mountain culture
•The jewel in the crown of Victoria

The Bottom Line
Sonia Buckley is proof that you can honor heritage while forging new paths, that practical solutions exist for seemingly impossible problems, and that rural leadership demands both toughness and tenderness. Her story is one of a woman who learned from legends, travelled the world, returned home to fight for her community, and is building a legacy that bridges conservation, culture, and compassion.

As she says: "We have a duty and an obligation... If I could live half the life my old man lived, then I reckon I'm doing not too bad."
But she's not just living half his life—she's creating her own remarkable chapter in the High Country story.
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For more information:
•Buckley's High Country Adventures (retreat property on Mita Mita River)
•East Gippsland Shire Council
•Contact through official council channels

Note: Sonia speaks in this episode as both Deputy Mayor and as "Citizen Sonia" when sharing private opinions, clearly distinguishing between her representative role and personal views.