Have You Herd?
- Words by Peppermint
Building a philosophy based on kindness and respect has allowed Lauren Brisbane, Director of the Sunshine Coast’s QCamel dairy, to foster a business not reliant on her camels, but in partnership with them.
When it seems like there’s an ever-growing list of things that can be milked – some of which seem more ludicrous than others – a product that cuts through the noise with an ethical, nutritious and tasty offering is worth sitting up and taking notice of. While switching out the staple cow’s milk for camel milk in your morning coffee may seem a little new age, cultivating produce from these majestic creatures is a practice that the Bedouin and nomadic cultures have been doing for centuries, and something that Lauren Brisbane and her family have been advocates for over the past 12 years through their business, QCamel dairy.
You learn how to manage them in the way that they want to be managed. We’ve learnt how to look after them as a being.
On a pocket of fertile land in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland lives a herd of 110 camels, each with their own name and individual personality. “We don’t look at our camels as stock – we see them more as our partners,” explains Lauren. “Our whole philosophy is about kindness.” Vastly different from the majority of human cultures, camels operate in a complex matriarchal system; older females become the natural leaders, and every individual camel plays an important role. At QCamel, the animals live by this system, with mothers and babies being kept together for up to two years after birth. Milking doesn’t take place until a baby is two months old, and is dictated by how much milk the individual calf drinks – QCamel only takes whatever milk the babies don’t need. With a no-slaughter policy, the company places importance on each individual camel rather than prioritising the bottom line, and the boys are kept with their mothers until they’re three, before being re-homed or given an alternative role in the herd. “We don’t care what the sex of a baby is,” says Lauren. “We don’t look at a camel and say, ‘Oh no, it’s a boy’. We’ve found value for our boys. We’re just happy that they deliver a healthy baby.” And it’s this engrained philosophy that has been the cornerstone of why the business is so successful. Lauren and the team take their instruction from the camels themselves – “you learn how to manage them in the way that they want to be managed. We’ve learnt how to look after them as a being.” And when it comes down to it, she says, “camels don’t ask for a lot”.
After becoming an accredited producer in 2014, Lauren and her family became the first to pasteurise camel milk in Australia – now adding Australian Certified Organic to their growing list of achievements. And the health benefits of this mother’s milk has become more widely known, with many studies uncovering its healing properties for certain illnesses, such as Type 1 and 2 Diabetes. Those with an aversion to dairy – specifically a reaction to beta-casein or beta-lactoglobulin, the whey proteins in cow’s milk – will find they don’t have a reaction to camel’s milk. And the health benefits continue with high levels of minerals such as potassium, zinc and magnesium and a low cholesterol and sugar content. The QCamel offering has extended beyond milk to include beauty products, delicious smoothie drinks, chocolates and ‘camel cuddle’ tours, where you can meet the likes of Fifi and her calf Isabel for a snuggle.
Since its inception the business has been a family affair; with Lauren and Peter at the helm, assisted by their grownup children Yasmin (who can be spotted on the bottles of camel milk), MacKinley and Harry – who all play a part in the day-to-day running of the business. Recycling and waste minimisation is of a high-priority on the farm. “Everything is recyclable – all the bottles and packaging,” says Lauren. “All the poo is picked up and then sent to organic farms. From a sustainability and ethics basis it goes right across the supply chain.” Each decision made by Lauren and her team always comes back to the fundamental philosophies of kindness, ethical practices and sustainability. She says: “That’s who we are. That’s why we do what we do. We want to be leaders in ethical animal production in Australia.”
WORDS: GEORGIA LEJEUNE
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
As issue 64’s gorgeous cover artwork by artist @LisaCongdon proudly proclaims: you belong here. Yet for trans and non-binary people, acceptance still remains hard won – and increasingly under threat.
In our latest issue, we spoke to actress and transgender rights advocate @GeorgieStone, multi-hyphenate life coach, pilates and meditation teacher, diversity educator and runway model @RudiLandmann, artist and seven-time Archibald finalist Kim Leutwyler (@CarlosBob) and multidisciplinary artist Sunday Jemmott of @SundaysArtClub about their wins and worries – and why belonging matters deeply.
Read more from our ‘Transforming the Narrative’ feature in issue 64, at newsagents and stockists now!
Photos: @NickCog, @KateLukePhotography for @DangerousFemales, Kim Leutwyler, @RissVisualStudio
#PeppermintMagazine #YouBelong #TransLivesMatter #NonBinary #HumanRights
Who’s going to the sold out Liberty Fabrics Showcase in Brisbane or Melbourne? 🙋♀️
To say we’re excited is an understatement! Maybe we’re biased because our lovely Laura (Sewing Manager) is walking in the fashion parade along with many other incredible sewists in our community, but also - there’s SO many good things: retail stalls featuring exclusive products, rare finds and all things @LibertyFabrics, and sneak peeks at brand-new quilting and fashion collections, including the Liberty Fabrics Spring/Summer ‘Floral Rebellion’ collection.
Also - Liberty legends Mary-Ann Dunkley (Head of Design) and Anna Buruma (ex-Head of Archive) are flying in from London especially!
Keep an eye on our socials this weekend for BTS! 🌸🌼🌺
Brisbane 7/2/26
Melb 14/2/26
From @Laura_The_Maker:
If you know me irl then you probably know that I only do one take for my reels so enjoy this vid of me saying thousands of words about an exciting collaboration I’m participating in for 2026!
Thanks to the teams @2GreenZebras @Regent_Street_Fabrics and @StyleArc for including me on the runway. I absolutely can’t wait!
Obviously I’ll be hoping for enough scrap fabric to make some kind of accessories…
#libertyfabrics #libertyfabricsshowcase
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
