A highlight of our work this year was the SA Farmers Recovery & Reconnect Tour to Kangaroo Island — a collaborative initiative supported by funding from the NAB Foundation, PIRSA, the State Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) and the Red Cross.
The tour brought together farmers from a range of fire-impacted regions across South Australia, creating a powerful opportunity to reconnect, reflect and share recovery experiences. It fostered a renewed sense of community, understanding and collective strength among those who have faced the lasting impacts of bushfire.
At the heart of every person is a unique and valuable story. In bushfire recovery, it is essential that we never lose sight of the individual behind the narrative.
The SA Farmers Recovery & Reconnect KI Tour was delivered on Kangaroo Island from Monday 6 March to Thursday 9 March 2023, bringing together a touring party of 38 South Australian farmers impacted by the Pinery (2015), Yumali/Netherton (2020), Freeling (2020), Eden Valley (2013) and Cudlee Creek (2019) fires.
Following the success of the 2021 Kangaroo Island Farmers Tour to Pinery, additional funding was generously secured through grants from the NAB Foundation ($35,000) and the State Emergency Relief Fund ($20,000), together with support from PIRSA and the Red Cross. This funding enabled RBS to expand the program to include a comprehensive tour of fire-impacted farms and small businesses along North Coast Road to Stokes Bay, as well as Western Kangaroo Island.
The aim of the tour was to support continued healing by creating space for farmers to share their unique recovery journeys following significant bushfire events. Through open conversations, property visits and shared reflection, participants were able to connect over common challenges and lessons learned.
From welcome packs and community dinners to guest speakers — including John Mannion, CEO of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation — the tour was designed as a holistic and nurturing experience. Mental Health First Aiders from Junction Australia were present throughout, ensuring participants felt supported as they revisited difficult memories and shared personal stories.
Ben and Sabrina Davis, attendees of the 2021 Pinery Tour and presenters at the SA Farmers Recovery & Reconnect KI Tour, shared their reflections.
Ben explained that his family originally joined the 2021 Pinery tour to see what recovery looked like five years on — what changes had been implemented and how others had rebuilt after disaster. He did not expect the depth of conversation around insurance or the practical insights shared, many of which are rarely covered in official bushfire recovery communications. Their decision to be involved in the Kangaroo Island tour was driven by the value they gained and their belief that others could benefit from hearing about their journey. He acknowledged that even years later, the effects of disaster remain visible, and that more support is needed to address the ongoing psychological impact.
Sabrina reflected that when their family was invited to visit the Pinery region six years after the fire event, they were still in the depths of their own recovery and welcomed the opportunity to step away. The experience provided hope and confidence that individuals and communities can navigate incredibly challenging times and emerge stronger.
Throughout the tour, affected farmers generously opened their properties and homes, sharing their lived experiences with honesty and courage. Their authenticity inspired many of the Kangaroo Island participants to pursue meaningful projects of their own, reinforcing the power of shared experience, peer connection and community-led recovery.
RBS is deeply grateful to the following organisations for their support of this tour:
