Why Rotary Held Pioneer Adventure Day

During 2025, more than 600 farming families across South Australia registered with Rotary and our partner, Farmers Relief Agency, to receive help with sourcing fodder to feed their livestock.

Since February that year, our team visited 350+ farms, delivering on average 10 tonne of fodder, either hay or high nutrition sheep pellets, direct to the farm gate.

The stresses we witnessed - the desperation and depression - is hard to describe. We had half a dozen farmers openly admit they were on the verge of suicide. But a Rotary hay delivery turning up at their farm gate with a substantial amount of high quality feed delivered something far more significant than fodder ... HOPE!

Children find it hard to understand why they no longer see Mum and Dad laugh. Or even smile. Why their homes are quiet all the time as their parents never stop worrying and thinking about ways to survive. Ways to put more than one meal a day on the table for their children, let alone themselves. Mental Health is a topic bandied around in the media a lot these days.

But this is the reality of 'mental health' being at an all time low in so many farming communities.

Rotary wanted to deliver a different form of HOPE!

Pioneer Adventure Day gave these families a day off the farm. A day where they could remember what being a family is about. A day of entertainment, rides, music, food, conversation and experiences.

For not only these farming families, but other businesses in Rural Towns struggling to survive, attending was an opportunity to reconnect and re-inspire.

We provided registrants with a FREE day of fun - entry fee covered - entertainment covered - food provided - Health Checks - and over $50,000 of Grocery giveaways as they left.

Sometimes people just need to know that others care.

Rotarians and many others in our community cared. In fact, 200 Volunteers attended to make the day a success!

For extra info, please phone Event Managers Bill Marles on 0410 523 106 or Katrina Lister on 0405 023 977 - or email Hay@RotaryAdelaideCentral.org.au