Pioneer Adventure Day Wrap

 

www.RotaryPioneerAdventureDay.au event went off like a FireCracker.

 

About 220 Volunteers helped run it … about 140 of those members of Rotary from about 15 Clubs

 

About 600 Farmers came along.

 

Over $50,000 of Groceries and Household / Farm items given away as families left. Pantry Items; Fresh Fruit and Veg; Clothing + more

 

The entire event came out to about $130,000 (including giveaways) to support this cohort of people doing it tough!

 

7 Farmers visiting our “Health Hub” were identified with Potentially Life Threatening conditions whereby without immediate interaction, they’d likely to be dead within a year. • 2 with advance melanoma; • 4 with advanced undiagnosed diabetes; • 1 with a Blood Pressure of 225 over 115 … and then there was another level of OMG below this when looking at Cholesterol etc! Our friends at Fat Farmers; Adelaide University; Flinders University have systems in place to follow these people up.

 

The day, beyond this sombre side, was full of mirth, merriment, music, dancing, food and entertainment. A number of farmers in tears of joy – some came for 2 hours .. and left after 6 hours!  (we think that says it all) 

 

The day frankly could not have been better if it tried. Seemed to tick every box. A great relief.

 

 

A MASSIVE shout out to the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge for everything they did, led by human dynamo President Roxanne Rowland. I’ve finally met someone who NEVER sleeps.

 

owners Tina and Danny Squires went above and beyond. Opening not only their village, but also their hearts to Rotary and our Farmers.

 

On the Day magnificent contributors to physically running the event, credit must be given to (in alphabetical order)

Rotary Clubs of:-

• Adelaide  • Adelaide Central  • Adelaide Light  • Burnside  • Hyde Park  • Mobilong  • Mt Barker  • Murray Bridge   
• Prospect  • Regency Park  • St Peters   • Strathalbyn   • Tailem Bend  • Unley  • West Lakes  

 

• Adelaide Hills  • Holdfast Marion  • Mobilong  • North East Sunset  • Tea Tree Gully  and  • IW District A70 (SA)  • IW Australia – Disaster Relief Fund

 

Financially most of those Clubs above also sponsored many farming families to have a FREE day of fun and health checks … As well as:-                                                                                                                             

Rotary Clubs of:-

• Adelaide Parks  • Alice Springs  • Blackwood  • Eastwood  • Edwardstown  • Flagstaff Hill  • Goolwa  • Holdfast Bay  • Morialta  • Norwood  • Somerton Park

 

 

 

THE DAY had so many elements. So many Community Groups surrounding Tailem Bend partnered with Rotary to make this event happen. So much music. Kids entertainment …

 

This story is well worth the read to get a feel for the vibe of the 100+ photos

 

 

 

 

Following an ever expanding list of phone calls and emails and Facebook messages from Farming Families BLOWN AWAY by Rotary’s generosity and community spirit … we should all be very proud of the result.

PS – they want to know if we’re doing it again next year!!   😳

 

Bill Marles

0410 523 106 • Hay@RotaryAdelaideCentral.org.au   

Project Manager – Rotary S.A. Drought Relief - Fodder to Farms   
Event Manager – www.RotaryPioneerAdventureDay.au  
Sunday 3 May 2026 – Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village  

 

 

 

2023 - 26  Vice President – Rotary Club of Adelaide Central Inc.

2016 - 26  Chair, Marketing & PR   

2022 - 23  Past President