Carole-Anne Priest’s Story
Carole-Anne Priest, a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, and passionate animal lover, has transformed her life by sharing her semi-rural property with a diverse family of rescued farm animals. Once a Sydneysider with little experience of livestock, Carole-Anne’s perspective changed profoundly when she began living alongside sheep, cows, pigs, alpacas, and more.
Her property, a sanctuary for animals south-west of Sydney, is a haven where her rescues live in harmony, free from fear, and surrounded by love. Carole-Anne’s deep connection with her animals has revealed their unique personalities, social bonds, and capacity for joy, challenging the common misconceptions about livestock.
A vocal opponent of live animal export, Carole-Anne draws on her firsthand experiences to advocate for ethical alternatives. She believes that animals deserve to live peacefully in their natural environments, not endure the cruelty of long, arduous journeys at sea. Her story is a powerful reminder of the compassion and care that should define our treatment of all sentient beings.
Through her advocacy and the relationships she has built with her animals, Carole-Anne inspires others to rethink the way we view and treat livestock, proving that a kinder, more ethical future is possible.
Read Carole-Anne’s story below:
Loving Life with Livestock
Carole-Anne Priest’s Journey from Businesswoman to Animal Advocate
Living with farm animals is really no different to living with cats and dogs, according to self-confessed animal lover, successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, Carole-Anne Priest.
“Moving to my semirural property over a decade ago and fulfilling my dream of surrounding myself with animals of all sizes and shapes has been a real eye-opener for me,” says the previous Sydneysider who is also the founder of innovative financial services company tailored to women, Imalia.
“I’ve always loved animals, but I didn’t grow up with livestock and I suppose I had some quite typical views. But that changed irreversibly when I inherited my first farm animals and began to spend time with them and see the incredible social networks they develop, and the very individual personalities they have.
“I was so captivated to watch the beautiful relationships grow between my cows, sheep, chickens, pigs, alpacas and even my rooster Charlie. All of my rescue animals live with each other in harmony and yet they have such different, unique personalities.
“The goats and sheep follow me around like they’re my shadow and they’re so incredibly gentle. Living on my property has allowed them to have no fear, they trust me and can lead peaceful lives. In return, it really is a privilege to spend time in their company.”
Whilst Carole’s semi-rural property south-west of Sydney is located close to a number of industrial farming businesses, including pig farms, cattle yards and abattoirs, Carole’s social network is made up of like-minded animal-loving individuals, including many who are involved in animal welfare.
“I have friends involved in the fight against ending live animal export and I must say that it’s a trade that, like so many Australians, I am completely against,” explains Carole, who is also a Telstra Businesswoman of the Year award winner.
“I can’t drive 25 minutes down the road to Camden when its sale yard day, to see the fear and confusion in the animals and hear their calls while they are corralled and awaiting transport is just too distressing.
“And when I think about the live export of sheep, I just can’t imagine what it must be like for those sensitive animals which I know first-hand are so naturally fearful. What must it be like for them to be transported and herded onto ships? I know from sharing my property with them that sheep are incredibly sensitive to noise, they are particularly frightened of thunder for example. What must it be like for them to have the roaring noise of the engines on those ships all day and night? Why on earth subject such innocent souls to such torture?
“Instead, as a country why wouldn’t we ensure that these animals are spared such long, arduous journeys and are instead slaughtered in Australia, which has the knock-on effect of creating more jobs for Australians. The figures around the increase in chilled meat exports is huge, so let’s do more of this, let’s increase our own economy and cut out the cruelty involved in shipping these sentient animals overseas, where they are slaughtered whilst fully conscious.”
Although quick to dispel any ‘greenie’ or ‘lefty’ labels, and also being keen to explain that she still occasionally eats meat, Carole says that labelling animals as dumb creatures that don’t feel anything is an arrogant, misguided attitude.
“The sheep I’m privileged to live with love being part of our big, farm community, they have friends, they adore routine, they display joy and happiness, and they show frustration at times. They care for each other deeply.
“For example, I have one female sheep that was advertised in the local paper as ‘three-day old lamb, perfect for the spit’. We rescued her and named her Anzac as she was born on the 11th of the 11th.
“Well today, this little sheep is an angel from heaven. She has a best friend, one of my pigs, Sherlock, who is blind and deaf. Anzac walks around the paddock with him, she leads him to food and she looks after him, she’s like a therapy sheep for Sherlock and their relationship is just beautiful to watch.
“So, my point is that sheep should be able to be sheep and practice what comes naturally to them, whether that’s grazing in green fields or gambling around paddocks. It is beyond cruel for them to be packed in their thousands on ships rolling around on the ocean for weeks and months at a time.
“I firmly believe that anyone who supports live animal export can never justify calling themselves an animal lover. Animal lovers want animal welfare to always be a top priority, and from sharing my lives with sheep, I have no doubt that there is no room for animal welfare in the trucking and shipping of these gentle, sentient creatures.”
Currently, Carole’s big and eclectic ‘family’ who mostly live together in a large, converted barn, includes seven sheep, four cows, six chickens, two alpacas 12 ducks, three dogs, four cats and Stevie the goose, who is apparently in charge of all the babies on the property.
“Most of my animals have been rescued and many have just turned up on my doorstep,” says Carole, who also regularly welcomes students from Sydney University’s livestock hospital, after which she says many admit to seeing a different side to the beautiful creatures she shares her home with.
“My vet once said to me that there is a beacon over my property that only animals can see. The ones that reach me certainly are fortunate because they have in effect stumbled on a sanctuary where they can live without fear and with freedom and love.
“So, I think my vet might be on to something. In fact, I think she’s right – the animals who find me are safe and loved, they are the lucky ones.”