TERRY Cotter credits his move into Dorper breeding with helping him through troubling times.
Back in 1991 he witnessed a horrific death on his Gilgandra property, “Wattle Vale”, which triggered a downward spiral in his mental health.
At the time, Terry was a Thoroughbred breeder and had found success with two stallions that won placings and money in Sydney and country races and were nominated for the Golden Slipper.
He was also a shearer and wool classer who hardly drank and was engaged to be married.
But he hit rock bottom after he witness the death of his friend.
Terry couldn’t continue with the horses alone, his relationship broke down and he had no immediate family or support network.
Mental illness was not often spoken about at the time and he spent many years trying to deal with his ill health and a subsequent court battle over the death of his friend on his property.
“I had no support whatsoever,” he said.
“It really knocked the daylights out of me.”
Terry found it increasingly harder to do farm chores.
“I used to farm a lot but found if I got on the tractor the cogs in my head would start spinning in different directions,” he said.
“I now have a day off if I find the tractor driving makes my head start racing.”
After seeking medical treatment, Terry eventually started breeding Dorpers in 1998 and is now happy and healthy, with a strong network of friends from the Dorper Society’s eastern region, and the local Lions Club members who give him plenty of support.
He also helped set up a local mental health support group to share information back in the 1990s, and says the 24/7 Mental Health Line has been a godsend to him when he has had bad days.
“A real person answers,” he said.
“I started advocating for mental health, and handing out flyers, and I am now on medication.”
Terry says his mental health has greatly improved since he started breeding Dorpers.
“It’s turned me around. People see how passionate I am about Dorpers,” he said.
“I was going downhill but the Dorpers pulled me through and got me going.
“It was a turnaround and they gave me something to do and think positive thoughts.
“I bought a ram and it snowballed from there.”
Terry now runs a successful Dorper stud, A.A. Wattle, and two years ago he began exporting ewes and lambs to China.
