Bruce: Life lessons from a Brahman bull (and a teenage daughter)

When part-time rodeo organiser, business owner, husband, and father Tom Kennedy adopted an orphan Brahman bull calf, he never imagined their bond would grow into an extraordinary friendship that would capture hearts and reveal the profound connection that can exist between humans and animals.

After a few months, Tom decided to create a Facebook page in the calf's name - partly as a joke and partly to save family and friends from the hundreds of photos of Bruce that were taking over his feed.

Tom was stunned when Bruce became a social media sensation, attracting people from all walks of life who formed their own deep connections with him, while some of his videos amassed over a million views. Tom began taking him to the beach, the local bowling alley, and even nursing homes, where he earned a reputation as one of Australia's most unusual therapy animals. He also developed a devoted local following, including a young autistic woman who formed a particularly special connection with him.

But while Tom was building a bond with a 1,100 kilo Brahman bull, his relationship with his teenage daughter was falling apart. The harder he tried to control her, the more she pushed back, eventually becoming completely estranged. Over time, he came to realise that the lessons Bruce taught him - patience, trust, understanding, did not just apply to raising a bull, they applied to daughters too.

Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter) is a deeply moving, funny, true Australian story that challenges conventional ideas about identity, fatherhood, failure and resilience. It's also a story about what happens when someone is courageous enough to pursue dreams that others consider delusional.

Bruce is not just the story of a bull. It's a story about how animals can help us understand how to be better humans.