Rural Aid is less than one week away from rolling out a digital red carpet to showcase eight Aussie communities that have turned their town around.  

Rural Aid will do so via its hugely popular Community Builders webinar series which returns in 2021 with an initial focus on the “reinvention of small towns.” 

The 2021 webinars start next Thursday (February 11), at 4pm AEDT time.  

Webinars will feature everyday Aussies from the following towns, who were brave enough to shoot for the stars to reinvent their region, and passionate enough to see it through. 

Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters, said he was excited to see such an engaging line-up to kick start 2021.  

“The Community Builders webinars are an invaluable resource to people wanting to renew their small town. I’d encourage anyone with an interest in keeping their rural community vibrant and energised, to sign up.” 

The webinars form part of Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program launched in June which sought to do as the name suggested – help create stronger futures for farming families and their towns by providing wellbeing support, assisting with community sustainability and knowledge sharing. 

In the first episode, Peter Fitchat, the CEO of the Dundas shire, will detail the steps Norseman locals took to entice visitors 7.5 hours east of Perth to visit their community. The town of fewer than 600 people has worked hard to ensure tourists’ first impressions of Norseman are positive, and powerful.  

Off the back of the success of the 2020 series, Peter Kenyon from the Bank of IDEAS will lead each webinar with his endless knowledge on small towns.  Lyndsey Douglas will expertly host the hour-long sessions.  

Registering once ensures you will be notified ahead of each webinar. Register now at: https://my.demio.com/ref/RUGroFy8QM6JQC4d    

For more information, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au 

Mates Rates are a mainstay of Aussie culture. But instead of helping a mate out by saving them a few dollars, what if you could help a mate out even more, by donating a few dollars?

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, has encouraged locals to continue the spirit of Australia Day, to help out Aussie farmers.  

“We’re great at lending a hand to mates in need here in Australia – it’s one of the best parts of our nation,” Mr Warlters said.  

“Right now, our farmers are in need of some ‘Mates Rates’. Rural Aid is encouraging the rest of the nation to dig deep to help out our farming families. By donating a few dollars to Rural Aid, you’ll help a farming family and their community get back on their feet after years of drought and devastating bushfires.” 

Last financial year, Rural Aid distributed more than $28 million worth of fodder, water, financial assistance and counselling to farmers and towns in need of a helping hand.  

Donations from the Mates Helping Mates campaign will contribute to Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program, an initiative that helps rejuvenate towns and surrounding farms. 

The multi-pronged program provides the knowledge, resources and the heavy lifters to ensure rural communities are maximizing their full potential.  

The Mates Helping Mates campaign is a third of the way towards its target of $100,000. 

“These generous donations will help to change the lives of our farming mates,” Mr Warlters said. 

To make a donation, visit www.ruralaid.org.au/mates-helping-mates  

For more information contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or at media@ruralaid.org.au 

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Australia’s leading rural charity has today launched its 2021 fundraising efforts on a day that embodies the essence of being a mate – Australia Day.  

Rural Aid is encouraging the nation to dig deep to help our farmers who are still bravely battling the effects of bushfires and drought.  

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the Mates Helping Mates campaign is a great chance to show our appreciation for those on the land. 

“A donation to the Mates Helping Mates campaign is the perfect way to lend a helping hand to a farmer,” he said.  

“Unfortunately, drought and bushfires create long-term challenges for rural communities, which aren’t always fixed by decent rain. Rural Aid helps farmers and townships that are struggling to get back on their feet, after some of the toughest years in history.” 

The money donated to the Mates Helping Mates campaign will contribute to Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program.  

The multi-faceted initiative provides farmers with wellbeing through Rural Aid’s team of resilience building counsellors and rural communities with the ideas, resources and volunteers they need to reinvigorate their town.   

Last financial year, Rural Aid provided assistance to the tune of $28 million dollars to farmers and their communities, in the form of fodder, drinking water, counselling and financial support.  

“As we mark Australia Day, and celebrate the great parts of our country, consider helping out a mate you’ve never met,” Mr Warlters said.  

“The assistance Rural Aid provides helps change the lives of everyday Aussie farmers.” 

Rural Aid’s Mates Helping Mates campaign continues into February. To make a donation, visit www.ruralaid.org.au/mates-helping-mates  

For more information contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au 

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Australia’s leading rural charity is helping strengthen country towns through another round of free Community Builders webinars.  

Off the back of last year’s popular sessions, this year’s series features more community leaders who’ve gone above and beyond to ensure their beloved town is put back on the map- for tourists and residents alike.  

The free webinars will run for eight weeks, under the theme ‘The Reinvention of Small Towns’. Norseman in Western Australia is the first town to be featured, starting off the series on February 11 at 4pm AEDT. 

Local leaders in in this town have worked hard to make sure their patch has a big impact on passers-by making a powerful and positive first impression on travellers. The communities have then transformed that awe and interest, into generous numbers of returned visitors.  

Hailing from the north of WA, Peter Fitchat CEO of The Shire of Dundas in the town of Norseman will kickstart the series, sharing his insights on being part of a community that punches above its weight. 

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the webinars are an integral part of the Stronger Futures program. 

“Rural Aid is heavily invested in strengthening rural communities through the sharing of ideas and experience. Connecting locals with a dream, to those with the means, can result in the transformation of entire districts,” Mr Warlters said. 

Peter Kenyon from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. fearlessly leads the webinars, freely sharing his immense knowledge on revitalizing regional centres. He’s urged anyone interested in breathing new life into their community to tune in. 

“Each webinar is bursting with insider knowledge. Experienced community leaders generously offer their success stories on how to turn a town around,” Mr Kenyon said.  

The series will feature towns who’ve used innovative methods to renew their community, such as: 

• Positive First Impressions 
• Indigenous Culture and Heritage 
• Murals and Public Art 
• Ignoring the Remote Label with Enterprise 
• Local Power/Energy Initiatives 
• Revitalisation of the Country Show 
• Making the most of the assets in your town  
• Entrepreneurial Value adding Local Agricultural Products 

To register for the webinars, visit https://my.demio.com/ref/RUGroFy8QM6JQC4d  

For more information, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au