perspectiveI moved for love. It's not as simple as Farmer Wants a Wife portraysBy Lisa Bromell, as told to Kellie ScottABC LifestyleTopic:Relationships13m ago13 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 6:00amLisa Bromell met her partner Jaeden six years ago. (Supplied)abc.net.au/news/what-moving-for-love-is-really-like-farmer-wants-a-wife/105228900Link copiedShareShare articleFalling in love with a farmer and moving to rural north Queensland wasn't part of the plan when Lisa Bromell left Ireland to travel Australia.But six years ago, while doing some work on a tomato and zucchini farm to extend her visa, she met Jaeden, and has been living in Bowen — located at the top of the Whitsundays — since.Is moving to a small town for love as simple as the reality dating show Farmer Wants a Wife portrays? Lisa says no."I was a little bit naive. I was thinking it's not forever, and I was thinking this will be fine, it'll be fun," the 31-year-old says."I struggled immediately … I was very isolated."Lisa and Jaeden have a son aged 11 months. (Supplied)A few years later, however, Lisa is enjoying what a slower-paced life has to offer, especially in her motherhood era.We spoke to her about the life-changing move, as the 15th season of Farmer Wants a Wife gets underway.These are her words.Moving to a new state after caravanningPhoto shows Writer Jodi Wilson wears a hat and scarf while walking on a beach in north-west Tasmania.Jodi Wilson thought she would return to NSW after caravanning around Australia with her family. Instead travel inspired a change of plan.A culture shockIn 2018 I moved to Melbourne. The plan was to see how I liked it, and if I wanted to stay longer, I would do farm work to extend another year.A couple of friends and I went up to Bowen/Juru. I didn't want to be cold.Planting tomatoes was probably the furthest thing from anything I'd ever done. I was a café manager back in Ireland.It was super, super hot in the February when I arrived. In the middle of nowhere. The smallest town I'd ever seen.It was a culture shock.Where I lived in Ireland was about the size of Townsville and considered the countryside. But in Ireland you're never more than half an hour from a city area because the country is so small.Have you up-ended your life for love, whether it was a relocation or something else? We'd love to hear from you: lifestyle@abc.net.auI came straight back for himI met my now partner within two weeks of being at the farm. He also worked on the farm and was local to the area.At first, he was just a bit of eye candy while we were working. But we met up at a party one night and kind of never separated from there.I began staying at his place, which was nicer than the hostel.Lisa Bromell met her partner while doing farm work to extend her visa. (Supplied)My attitude was still very much, 'I'm leaving in a few months', but then I went home at Christmas and came straight back for him.I knew I loved him and was happy to live in Bowen as I wanted to see where the relationship could go.COVID hit and I've been here ever since.I found it difficult to make connectionsThe first year of living here permanently I struggled immediately.I was thinking 'Oh, shit, what have I done?'I felt like no-one was putting in the time with me because they assumed I would leave like the other backpackers.I'd make friends with backpackers, then they would leave.I was very isolated.Sign up to the ABC Lifestyle newsletterGet a mid-week boost and receive easy recipes, wellbeing ideas, and home and garden tips in your inbox every Wednesday. You’ll also receive a monthly newsletter of our best recipes.Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribeIt got a little bit easier after I realised I needed to connect with people who are from here. I needed to start getting into the community and seeing what Bowen has to offer.It helped, but I'm still adjusting.Also living in a smaller town, everyone knows your business.I guess you can't do anything without everyone knowing about it.It would be a big adjustment for anyone, I expect. I think unless you are used to being on a farm or living in a rural area, leaving your family is huge.My partner is in the mines now, but farmers work so much — they are always working.I really love the lifestyleLisa says she was prepared to call Bowen home for her partner Jaeden. (Supplied)Two years ago, my partner and I visited Ireland, and my mum and dad have been over [to Australia] twice. We are going back in a few weeks and taking my son.I miss people back home a lot. And Irish Christmas.But now I really love the lifestyle here. It's very slow-paced.There are no traffic lights, you don't have to rush anywhere.Fishing is a big thing in Bowen, which was a very new experience for me.I wasn't a fish eater until I caught my own and got to eat it a few hours later. Fresh fish from the reef is a luxury!Since having my son, I've not wanted to move because it's just so easy and there are lots of young families.I'm working very casually as a support worker.I feel like my motherhood journey has been really easy, and I do put it down a lot to being in this small community.Posted 13m ago13 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 6:00amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows A man in a shirt and hat.Albanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Albanese, at a press conference, raises his hands while speaking.Related storiesThe Big Move: Should you relocate your life for love?Topic:Relationships'Nothing better in the world': City dwellers ditch the rat race and find fulfilment in the Tasmanian countryside Topic:Horticulture IndustryPhoto shows A woman holds a toddler next to a man and a dog in between a row of treesThe reality of being a female farmerTopic:Community and SocietyPhoto shows A woman holds up a bunch of carrots, with a man in the background.Has Audio Duration: 1 hour .1h Why Jarred and his family found living in Tuscany 'a lot harder than we were expecting'Topic:Lifestyle and LeisurePhoto shows Jarred, Aurora and their two kids stand on a hill in TuscanyWarracknabeal Wants a Wife - the local woman looking for love Photo shows A woman with dark hair and wearing a brown dress smiles while standing in front of open barn doors. 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