Category: News

The journey continues: Sam Longmore joins Rural Aid as Ambassador

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Following her extraordinary 441-kilometre wheelchair journey through regional New South Wales, Sam Longmore is continuing her commitment to rural communities as the newest Rural Aid Ambassador.

The Yass-based small business owner and adaptive athlete joins Rural Aid’s Ambassador team alongside Aussie Rules player Alyce Parker and retired Rugby League player Corey Jensen, using her profile to continue raising awareness of mental health and the challenges facing people in the bush.
 
Sam’s appointment follows The Big Wheel: Push for a Purpose, an eight-day journey from Corowa to Yass that took her through more than 20 regional communities and raised more than $200,000 for rural charities Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell.
 
“I always wanted The Big Wheel to be about more than the kilometres or money raised,” Sam Longmore said.
 
“It was about getting people talking, bringing communities together and shining a light on mental health in rural Australia.
 
“Becoming a Rural Aid Ambassador means I can keep that conversation going. I’ve seen the incredible strength and generosity of rural communities, and I want to keep using my voice to support them.
 
“The Big Wheel showed me what’s possible when people come together behind a cause, and I’m really excited to continue that journey with Rural Aid.”
 
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said Sam’s passion for rural communities and her ability to connect with people made her a natural fit for the role.
 
“Sam has an incredible ability to bring people together and get people talking,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“What she achieved through The Big Wheel was remarkable, but it was the purpose behind it that really stood out.
 
“Sam understands the importance of community and looking out for one another. We’re delighted she’ll continue using her platform to raise awareness of mental health and support people in rural and remote Australia.”
 
Through its work across rural and remote Australia, Rural Aid supports farmers and rural communities through challenging times, including drought, flood and fire, while investing in community development and mental health wellbeing initiatives.
 
For Sam, the Ambassador role is a chance to build on the momentum of The Big Wheel and continue supporting the communities that inspired her journey.
 
“The finish line in Yass wasn’t really the end,” Sam said.
 
“It feels more like the start of something. I want to keep the conversation going and remind people in rural communities that when times are tough, they don’t have to go through it alone.”
 
Australians can continue Sam’s mission by supporting Rural Aid and helping ensure farmers and rural communities have access to practical assistance, connection and wellbeing support when they need it most.
 
To support Rural Aid, visit ruralaid.org.au/donate or call 1300 327 624.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities. Rural Aid delivers practical assistance during drought, fire, flood and other disasters, helping farming families stay on the land and protect their livelihoods. Through disaster relief, mental health support and community development programs, Rural Aid works with partners, supporters and volunteers to strengthen rural communities and ensure farmers have the support they need to recover, rebuild and remain connected.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Months after disasters strike, Rural Aid continues supporting farmers through recovery

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Earlier this year, floods, bushfires and cyclones caused widespread damage across rural communities right across Australia, but for many families the recovery journey is far from over.

Thanks to the generosity of Rural Aid supporters, hundreds of farming families have continued receiving practical and emotional support as they rebuild.

Rural Aid support between 1 January to 30 June 2026 has included:

  • Financial support to more than 300 families.
  • More than 4,000 hay bales to help farmers feed livestock.
  • 114 water tanks to improve water resilience.
  • Nearly 10 million litres of drinking water for 437 farming families.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the support delivered in the months following disaster was critical, as farmers worked through the long process of recovery.

“Natural disasters can change a farming family’s life in a matter of hours, but recovery takes much longer,” Mr Warlters said.

“Once the initial response is over, farmers are often left repairing fences, replacing damaged infrastructure, caring for livestock and working to get their businesses back on track.

“The reality is that many farmers can feel isolated when they are facing these challenges. Rural Aid is there to remind them they are not alone, providing practical assistance, wellbeing support and a connection to people who understand what they are going through.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can continue standing alongside farmers throughout their recovery journey.”

Alongside practical assistance, Rural Aid has continued expanding its wellbeing support across affected regions.

A new Rural Aid counsellor based in Cloncurry is helping farmers and rural communities in North West Queensland access support closer to home, while Rural Aid counsellors continue visiting Victorian communities impacted by bushfires.

For farmers, this support can make a lasting difference.

Fourth-generation dairy farmer Jason Cousins knows first-hand the importance of ongoing support after disaster. Following flooding on his farm near Singleton, NSW, Mr Cousins was contacted by Rural Aid and connected with counselling support.

“I still talk to them today. This is from back in 2022,” Mr Cousins said.

“I don’t know where I’d be today if it wasn’t for that lifeline of the Rural Aid lady ringing me up that day.”

Jason said ongoing counselling support helped him manage the challenges that followed.

“Talking to the Rural Aid counsellors helps you work through things and work out how to cope. It helps you get through those tough times.”

Farmer Nancy Pitkin, from Tenterfield, NSW, said Rural Aid’s practical support and wellbeing services made a meaningful difference during challenging periods.

“Rural Aid assisted us with fencing materials and hay, which was so appreciated, and they also provided mental health counselling,” Ms Pitkin said.

“When times are tough and someone like Rural Aid reaches out, they’re the little things that keep you above ground.”

Mr Warlters said Rural Aid’s commitment to farming communities extends well beyond the initial response to disaster.

“Recovery is not measured in days or weeks. For many farmers, it is a journey that takes months and years,” Mr Warlters said.

“Our commitment is to be there for farmers throughout that journey, providing support when they need it most and helping rural communities remain strong.”

Farmers needing support, or Australians wanting to help, can visit www.ruralaid.org.au or call 1300 327 624.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities. Rural Aid delivers practical assistance during drought, fire, flood and other disasters, helping farming families stay on the land and protect their livelihoods. Through disaster relief, mental health support and community development programs, Rural Aid works with partners, supporters and volunteers to strengthen rural communities and ensure farmers have the support they need to recover, rebuild and remain connected.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Ampol deepens support for regional communities through expanded Rural Aid partnership

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Ampol has announced a significant partnership expansion with Rural Aid to strengthen practical support, mental health and wellbeing services, and long-term resilience across regional Australia.

The three-year commitment builds on Ampol’s existing partnership with Rural Aid, which formally began in 2024 after five years of prior support, with fuel assistance for Rural Aid counsellors, volunteers and field teams, and helping critical services reach farming families and rural communities affected by drought, floods and other hardship.

Through the new agreement, Ampol will enable Rural Aid’s highest-priority programs, including disaster assistance, infrastructure, and programs to support farmers, farming families and rural communities through everyday pressures, hardship, disaster, recovery and longer-term resilience.

The partnership will also create opportunities for Ampol employees to volunteer alongside Rural Aid teams, contributing directly to practical assistance for farmers and rural communities.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Matt Halliday said the partnership reflected Ampol’s long-standing connection to regional Australia and commitment to the communities in which it operates through the Ampol Foundation.

“Regional communities are central to Australia’s economy and way of life, and Ampol is proud to deepen our support for the farmers, families and local communities who keep the country moving,” Halliday said.

“Our partnership with Rural Aid has delivered practical assistance where it is needed most, keeping their counsellors and volunteers on the road, helping recovery work take place at the farm gate and supporting the wellbeing of farming families.

“This three-year commitment gives Rural Aid greater certainty to plan and respond as needs evolve, while helping more communities recover from hardship.”

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said Ampol’s three-year commitment will help Rural Aid reach more farming families and strengthen the support available to regional communities across Australia.

“Ampol’s support means we can strengthen the programs that matter to farming families, providing disaster assistance, mental health support and practical support when communities are doing it tough,” Warlters said.

“We know how much it means when someone shows up for a farming family in a difficult season. This partnership will help us reach further, connect with more communities and make sure more people know there is support available when they need it.

“Drought, flood, fire and ongoing pressures can have a profound impact on farming families and the communities around them. Having trusted support there to listen, provide practical help and walk alongside people can make a real difference.

“We’re proud to have Ampol alongside Rural Aid for the next three years. Their commitment will help us reach more families, strengthen rural communities and be there for people when they need a helping hand.”

Ampol’s expanded partnership with Rural Aid comes as rural and regional communities continue to manage rising costs, severe weather and prolonged disaster recovery. By combining Ampol’s national network, employee base and fuel supply capabilities with Rural Aid’s on-the-ground expertise, the organisations will help ensure timely assistance reaches communities when and where it is needed.

About Ampol:
Ampol is an independent Australian company and supply the country’s largest branded petrol and convenience network as well as refining, importing and marketing fuels and lubricants. Ampol has a deep history spanning over 100 years, having grown to become Australia’s largest transport energy provider, including through the AmpCharge electric vehicle charging network and exploration of low carbon liquid fuels, to ensure customers’ evolving needs are met.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities. Rural Aid delivers practical assistance during drought, fire, flood and other disasters, helping farming families stay on the land and protect their livelihoods. Through disaster assistance, mental health support and community development programs, Rural Aid works with partners, supporters and volunteers to strengthen rural communities and ensure farmers have the support they need to recover, rebuild and remain connected.

For further information, please contact:
Ampol Media
0417 905 914
media@ampol.com.au

Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Help lighten the load for Australia’s farming families

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Rural Aid is calling on Australians to help carry the weight for farming families who are doing everything they can to keep going through disasters, adversity and the daily pressures of life on the land.

Behind every farm is a family carrying more than most of us will ever see. They’re caring for livestock, working the land, supporting their families, keeping their businesses going and wondering what the next season will bring.
 
For many, the weight is becoming too much.
 
Drought, floods, fires, rising costs, financial pressure and the uncertainty of farming can take a heavy toll. Often, the hardest struggles are the ones no one sees.
 
Farmers are used to getting on with the job. They don’t always ask for help. They shouldn’t have to face the toughest times alone.
 
A donation today can help make sure a farming family has someone in their corner when they need it most, providing practical support, a helping hand and hope when the road ahead feels overwhelming.
 
For farmer Tanya Bertram, recent drought has had a devastating effect. Watching the creek on her 250-acre property in Dalveen, Queensland, run dry has meant facing the ongoing cost of keeping livestock fed.
 
“We’ve still got possibly six months that we’re going to be hand feeding livestock. That’s quite costly,” Tanya said.
 
Rural Aid recently provided Tanya’s family with hay and financial assistance, helping them keep their cattle going through the dry conditions.
 
She has a simple message for anyone thinking of donating to Rural Aid.
 
“This is where your food comes from,” Tanya said. “Our sheep go to markets, they go to the butchers, they go to your supermarkets.”
 
“If you can support Rural Aid, please do. It means a lot to farming families knowing there’s someone there when things get tough.”
 
For Chinchilla cattle farmer Les Mayer, a severe storm changed everything in the space of an hour, destroying his hay shed and damaging his home.
 
“It happened within a space of an hour, a quite frightening hour and we haven’t been able to live at home since,” Les said.
 
Months later, Les and his family are still working towards returning home. Rural Aid volunteers helped clear the property, taking a significant burden off the family.
 
“It’s just a big relief that Rural Aid has come and done all this for us,” Les said.
 
Les said supporting farmers means supporting every Australian.
 
“Nobody can survive without a farmer. We’ve all got to eat,” Les said. “Your food and your fibre comes from farmers like me.”
 
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said donations can help ensure farming families have somewhere to turn when facing challenging times.
 
“Farmers do so much for all of us, and when dealing with adversity, they need Australians in their corner too,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“A donation can help provide hay when there is no feed for livestock, financial assistance when a family is under pressure, help after a disaster or mental health support when someone needs it.
 
“Please stand with our farming families and help carry the weight.”
 
Help Carry the Weight for Farmers. Donate today at ruralaid.org.au/carrytheweight or call 1300 327 624.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities. Rural Aid delivers practical assistance during drought, fire, flood and other disasters, helping farming families stay on the land and protect their livelihoods. Through disaster relief, mental health support and community development programs, Rural Aid works with partners, supporters and volunteers to strengthen rural communities and ensure farmers have the support they need to recover, rebuild and remain connected.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Allianz Australia and Rural Aid unite to support communities recovering from disasters

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Allianz Australia has announced a new three-year partnership with Rural Aid as part of its Allianz Community Care program, with Allianz employees already making a tangible difference on the ground for farming families at Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Event in Chinchilla, Queensland.

The Allianz Community Care program unites Allianz Australia’s community partnerships under one shared mission. It aims to build mental resilience, strengthen social connection, and support long-term disaster recovery. Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, delivering practical assistance and mental health support for farmers and their families as they navigate the challenges of drought, flood, fire and adversity.

As a national partner of Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Events, Allianz Australia is helping support farms across the country through a range of practical recovery activities. In July 2026, Allianz employees visited Chinchilla and worked directly alongside farming families and Rural Aid volunteers on practical recovery tasks like clearing up storm debris, fencing and sheep marking. These jobs are critical but often overwhelming for families managing the aftermath of disasters alone.

Susan Mizrahi, General Manager of Sustainability, Allianz Australia, said, “What struck me most in Chinchilla was the power of people coming together. Seeing our employees work alongside farmers, volunteers and community members brought Allianz Community Care to life in a way that was both humbling and inspiring.”

“Recovery is more than repairing fences and infrastructure; it’s about the unseen scars. This experience was a powerful reminder that small acts of support and connection, delivered with the right partners, can have a lasting impact.”

For Kyle Mellors, whose Chinchilla property was devastated by major hailstorms and flooding, the support went beyond completing tasks. “The volunteers have come out to help with some of our creek flood fences that have been washed down over the years. Being out here, we tend to prioritise the big jobs that keep the farm ticking along, so the little things inside the house do get missed. Having that extra help makes a big difference.”

Les Mayer, a farmer whose Chinchilla property was impacted by a very severe, destructive storm in March, said, “I hate asking for help, but I’m really grateful that they’re here and they’re doing it. Having the team here this week has been a massive relief because everything that had been blown around has been picked up, stacked up and cleaned up.”

For many farmers, recovery is a long process with competing demands on their time. Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Events not only provide practical relief, but a powerful sense of connection and support during an incredibly difficult period, ultimately providing farming families with the confidence, relief and renewed capacity to work towards rebuilding their livelihood.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the partnership with Allianz will play an important role in helping Rural Aid reach more farmers, support more families and strengthen the communities that are so vital to Australia’s future. “Behind every farm is a family, and behind every farming family is a story of hard work, dedication and commitment to producing the food and fibre that Australians rely on. But when challenges arise, the pressures can become overwhelming.”

“At Rural Aid we stand beside farmers – we listen and respond, reminding farmers that they don’t have to face these challenges alone. This partnership with Allianz helps us extend that support to more people across rural Australia. Together, we can make sure more farming families receive the right assistance at the right time,” said Warlters.

The volunteering experience also had a profound effect on the Allianz team who participated. Martin, Allianz Australia employee, said, “Volunteering with Rural Aid through Allianz was a powerful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful work happens when you show up for someone in their toughest moment. Seeing the relief and renewed hope on a farmer’s face at the end of the day is an image that will stay with the team for a long time. It’s the kind of experience that fills your spirit and proves that small acts of genuine care can make an extraordinary difference.”

The next Farm Recovery Event Allianz will support is in the Atherton Tablelands from 23 to 28 August. Allianz Australia will announce more partnerships under the Allianz Community Care program in the coming months.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities. Rural Aid delivers practical assistance during drought, fire, flood and other disasters, helping farming families stay on the land and protect their livelihoods. Through disaster relief, mental health support and community development programs, Rural Aid works with partners, supporters and volunteers to strengthen rural communities and ensure farmers have the support they need to recover, rebuild and remain connected.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au