Australians first fell in love with Farmer Dave Graham when he appeared on Big Brother in 2006.

During that memorable season, Dave, then 26, came out as gay - and was involved, as he later told Sunrise, in “the first man-on-man kiss on LIVE TV in Australia”.

Australia has come a long way since then - and so has Farmer Dave, who has added a number of fascinating strings to his career bow in the years that followed.

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On the personal front, he has become the donor dad to four children and recently became engaged to his partner Shazli, saying 2022 had been “the best year” of his life.

Between watching him come out on national television, to putting a ring on his finger, Australia’s love affair with Farmer Dave has never abated.

From his blonde good looks to his down-to-earth personality, he’s the male equivalent of fellow Big Brother star Reggie Bird - a salt-of-the-earth type that people just naturally love.

Here’s a rundown of what we know about the life of Farmer Dave.

Beginnings

Dave Graham grew up on his grazier parents’ huge farm in southwest Queensland and learned how to handle animals - especially his beloved dogs - from a young age.

“Our farm dogs were my first friends, my companions and confidants in a world where I often felt confused, isolated and different,” he writes on his official website.

He later revealed that he had been violently bashed because of his sexuality and that in the early 2000s - especially if you lived in rural Australia - it was “normal” for a gay man to be in the closet.

Big Brother

Looking back in 2020 on Big Brother and the process of coming out to his housemates, Dave said it was an “emotional, huge” moment for him.

Part of his reason for going on the show was because he wanted to open up the conversation about equality.

“We now have equal rights, and hopefully that little part I played back then allowed us to get to where we are now,” he once told Mamamia.

“I went on to create conversations and change in Australia about gay people being treated equally and without judgement.

“Back then we were heavily discriminated against.

“It was normal to be in the closet for fear of violence and exclusion.”

He also admitted that for a while, he couldn’t rewatch the 2006 season of Big Brother, but that he had done so recently and was proud of his younger self.

“To be able to watch it – and I think maybe this is being a dad now, or maybe this is working with young people – but I was just so proud,” he said.

“I just thought, ‘What an articulate young fella’.

“I think there was a part of the population that was probably like, ‘Oh, so farmers are gay as well!’

“Maybe they’re not all just running around naked at the Mardi Gras.

“Maybe gays are everywhere, but they’re not talking about their sexuality because they’re just living their lives.”

All about the dogs

After leaving Big Brother, Farmer Dave’s bread and butter became his dog training school in Sydney, which gained him an international reputation in the field.

The Farmer Dave Dog Centre was a multipurpose sports, training, socialisation and lodging centre for dogs until 2017, when it fell victim to Sydney’s ever-expanding urban development.

Dave went on to become the co-founder of a youth program called RuffTrack, which works to help vulnerable young people develop crucial life and work skills.

Part of the program, aimed at 12 to 17-year-olds, involves his beloved dogs, as the program teaches kids about animal care and training as well as agriculture, community work and connecting to Country.

The former reality star has also built up a successful speaking and MCing career, which has resulted in him criss crossing the country and heading overseas to impart his knowledge.

COVID

The multi-tasker was on a speaking tour in the US in 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit.

“They shut down New Orleans the second day I was there,” he told Mamamia in 2020.

“The day after that we got on a plane and got the hell home.”

Back in Australia, he decided to focus on RuffTrack, so called because each teenager is paired up with a young dog to help them learn responsibility.

“This has really brought home the need for a village to raise kids and it just goes to show how important male role models are to kids,” he said.

“It gave me a kick up the a***, to be honest, that as a dad you’ve got to be present and you’ve got to listen.”

Donor dad

Dave is a donor dad to four children and is good friends with their mothers.

“When I came out, I thought children was something I had to shut the door on, so to have genetic kids through being a donor dad has been amazing,” he told Who in May 2022.

At first, the children’s mums would take them to Dave’s various speaking engagements, but they connected only sporadically because his life was “pretty much living out of a suitcase”.

But then he realised he wanted and needed to be more involved.

“They’ve got super-loving families around them and all that sort of stuff, and I’m a donor dad, so it’s a little bit different to a full-time role of a father, but a dad’s a dad,” he said.

His children rarely appear on his social media, and he has kept their mothers’ identities a secret to protect their privacy.

DWTS, Big Brother 2.0 and AGT

When Dave wrapped up Big Brother in 2006, he wasn’t quite done with reality TV.

He did a stint on Dancing With the Stars the year after Big Brother, admitting he agreed because he had “to pay for a big stock feed bill that I had”.

In 2022, he joined fellow Big Brother royalty housemates including Reggie Bird, Trevor Butler and Tim Dormer to compete against a slew of fresh faces.

In a shock move, he eventually nominated himself for eviction, with Reggie Bird taking out the competition for the second time.

He also appeared on AGT in 2022 with his RuffTrack crew, impressing guest UK judge David Walliams, who told him he was “spunky”.

As Dave walked onto the AGT stage, Australian judges Kate Ritchie and Shane Jacobson - along with the audience - recognised him immediately.

But Walliams and fellow Brit Alesha Dixon were confused as to why the group received such a cheer from the audience, prompting Dave to explain that he had been on several reality shows.

After explaining what RuffTrack was all about, Walliams said: “Do you ever think you might take a camp 50-year-old comedian under your wing and turn his life around?”

“You can join us any day,” Dave laughed, adding that there are “plenty of acres to frolic around on”.

“Yeah, because you’re kind of spunky,” Walliams joked.

“It was very, very charming and it’s wonderful what these kids have.

“You’ve given them a fresh start in life, so I applaud you for that.

“And I’m going to Google you when I get home - ‘Farmer Dave, topless pictures’,” he joked, before giving the group the thumbs up.

Engagement

In January 2023, Farmer Dave revealed on Instagram that he was engaged to his partner Shazli.

“After a lifetime of looking, I am absolutely and completely in love with the kindest, calmest, most decent hard-working bloke who balances me perfectly,” he shared.

“I was the guy who was told a thousand times when you least expect it, it will happen ... and it did!”

In an interview with Woman’s Day, Dave said he met Shazli in a pub in 2021 and the attraction was instant.

“I thought I had hit the jackpot,” he said.

“He was so polite and well mannered, not to mention good looking.”

Dave also revealed he was the one to ask Shazli to marry him.

“I asked him, ‘Would you join me and journey together through the rest of our lives and marry me?’ He looked at me tearfully and I knew it was a yes!” he said.

Fans and friends reacted with joy to the surprise news, with Reggie Bird commenting: “Woohoo no longer a secret. Yah you’ve finally let the world know.”

“So happy for you guys and can’t wait for the big day,” she added.

“Love you buddy.”

Big Brother housemate Tim Dormer also commented on the news.

“Omg ...that was the hardest secret I had to keep!

“So happy for you guys.”

The future

Apart from his four donor children, Dave - who comes from a family of 11 - said he would love to have more kids with Shazli.

“I love kids. I just love the idea that you can shape a good human,” he told Mamamia.

“My dream would definitely be to have a dozen kids myself.”

Dave has certainly seen the social and cultural landscape change in Australia since he first appeared on Big Brother in 2006.

And fans continue to praise him whenever he posts on social media, thanking him for opening up the conversation around sexuality and equality among other things.

A recent post about depression in young people and the need for kindness and inclusion struck a chord with many of his followers.

“Such an important reminder, Dave,” one fan wrote.

“What you do Dave is truly amazing!” added another.

“You should be so proud!

“You are changing lives.”

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