Meet the Team
Janice Menzies
Co-Founder
Janice Menzies and her husband Greg are second generation farmers in the Riverina 80km Nth West of Wagga Wagga. Their farming enterprise consists of growing most grains and prime lambs.
Janice is mum of 4, a sports trainer and is very active on the farm helping where she can - driving tractors, sowing the crop, operating the header, fencing, you name it she'll give it a go. Like most farming families, life is super busy, but this year has been even busier.
For her family, the drought has put enormous pressure on the stock and there is a massive financial expense which goes with that. The Menzies family crops are just hanging in there as they were lucky to get rain recently.
Back in early 2000’s Janice's kids missed out on a lot being in drought and were struggling to make ends meet, saying no to her children frequently. This is why she wanted to do something for the kids, and with that, DDAK was born.
Gabrielle Menzies
Co-Founder
Gabi Menzies is Janice's eldest daughter and grew up at "Glenwann" - the family farm. She is a qualified K-12 Teacher, and is currently teaching History at a High School in Albury, NSW.
Her partner, Matt, is a qualified Diesel Mechanic and does FIFO work in Botswana. Whenever he is home, he is the first back to the farm to give Greg and Janice a hand fixing any of the machinery and doing odd jobs around the farm.
Gabi also loves to get back to "Glenwann" and lend a hand. Her favourite way of helping is getting in the kitchen and cooking up a storm! Whether that be making smoko and lunch during shearing time, or packing the lunchboxes and delivering dinner during harvest, Gabi is there with spatula in hand!
Anyone who knows Gabi knows that she has loved and cared for kids since she was little herself, and DDAK is just another way she can help those who are most vulnerable.
Hayley Dowling
Co-Founder
Hayley Dowling is the eldest of two siblings, one being the little boy who inspired the idea behind DDAK.
She spent her first 6 years of her life growing up in a small opal mining town called White Cliffs which had a very small population of around 100.
After 6 years, her family moved to where they are currently living; on a property approximately 2 hours out of Broken Hill.
Hayley's family volunteer for a wildlife rescue group where they rehabilitate and release orphaned kangaroos and emus. It is because of this that Hayley has a strong love and appreciation for animals.
Hayley spent her primary schooling on School of the Air with her mum teaching her, and currently she is completing her HSC at boarding school, which she has attended since 2013.
In 2015 Hayley started dating Fraser, Greg & Janice's youngest, and they have been together ever since. The Menzies family have welcomed her into the family with open arms, and she enjoys spending time at their farm.
Hayley absolutely loves where she lives and wouldn’t change it for the world.