A big-hearted morning of connection, generosity, and rural health.
- fatfarmersadmin
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Together with our Major Health Partner, The Hospital Research Foundation Group, we were proud to welcome 200 guests to our inaugural Big Heart Breakfast at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. It was a genuinely heartening morning, bringing together people who believe in our journey and who share our commitment to supporting farmers and rural communities — the big hearts of Australia.
There is no doubt that rural life is tough, and in recent years it has become even tougher with drought, rising pressures and shortages affecting day-to-day life on the land. In the midst of this, connection matters deeply. Coming together with like-minded people and knowing you are not alone can make all the difference.
Through the Health Hub, we are able to support people at a preventative level by offering free health checks to those who might not otherwise visit a clinic — or who may be put off by the cost. By taking these checks directly to rural communities, we make it easier for people to spend a quick 15–20 minutes prioritising their health, and in some cases, that small step can help identify an undiagnosed condition early.
These were the messages at the heart of the morning — and they are only possible because of the generosity, encouragement and shared belief of our sponsors, supporters, and wider community.
The morning ran beautifully, thanks in no small part to Annabelle Homer, who was a thoughtful and engaging MC. Having previously worked with her through the ifarmwell ‘Weather It Together’ campaign, we knew she understood rural life, the challenges communities have been navigating, and how to connect meaningfully with a room full of agriculture leaders and supporters.
A special part of the morning was a ‘bar stool conversation’ with Co-Founder Ben Wundersitz and CEO Richard Sheppy, who shared thoughtful insights into Fat Farmers and the bigger picture behind our work. We are so grateful to them both for speaking so openly about their own personal experiences and the reasons they care so deeply about this mission. I hope many of you were inspired to go and get a health check!
We were also thrilled to premiere two new videos — the Fat Farmers Impact Video and the Fat Farmers Health Hub Video — both beautifully produced by Merlin. They captured our story, our mission and, most importantly, the real impact this work has had in communities across Australia over the past 10 years. It was an emotional moment for many in the room.
If you wish to view, please do so here.
And because a morning like this is never the work of one group alone, our thanks must continue.
To Professor Paul Flynn and The Hospital Research Foundation Group team, thank you for standing beside us as our Major Health Partner since July 2024. Your support has helped put real boots on the ground, allowing us to visit rural communities, deliver events and support the establishment of Fat Farmers groups where connection and preventative health support are needed most.
To the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA, thank you for so generously providing the event space and catering for the morning.
To our attending sponsors and champions — Bunge, Elders Limited, HARDI Australia, Perks Accountants and Wealth Advisers, Rabobank Australia, Brentnalls SA, Waterfind Pty Ltd, Achmea Farm Insurance, Purvis AgriFinance and Seed Terminator — thank you for backing our work so generously. We simply would not be where we are today without the strength of your support.
To our attending Board members — Chair Dr Rod Pearce AM, Commercial Partnerships Rob Dawes, Treasurer Deb Purvis, and Board Director Rachel McKay — thank you for your ongoing guidance, generosity, and belief in what we do.
And finally, to our incredibly generous raffle donors — SANFL, The Hospital Research Foundation Group, Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, and anonymous donors — thank you. Most of all, we are deeply thankful to everyone who attended. Thanks to your generosity, a net profit of over $7,400 was raised to be equally shared between Fat Farmers and The Hospital Research Foundation Group. We are so grateful to all who helped make the Big Heart Breakfast such a meaningful and encouraging morning.
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