World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
West Coast Long Drive raises nearly $40,000 for farmer support
Dan Sutherland organised an eight-day drive from Perth to Bullara Station in Western Australia to show support for farmers.
The convoy of vintage LandCruisers travelled through the Wheatbelt and Gascoyne, stopping in rural towns along the way.
The drive raised nearly $40,000 for Farm Angels, a charity that supports farmers.
Sutherland said he wanted farmers to know that help is available and that people care about them.
Isolation and stigma can make it harder for farmers to seek mental health support, while a 2026 national report found that more than half of farmers had felt depressed in the previous two years.
Farmer and convoy participant Arran Teakle said pressures including damage from cyclones, mouse plagues and low rainfall had affected him.
The drive helped raise awareness of support networks, and its organisers hope farmers will be more likely to reach out for help.
The West Coast Long Drive raised nearly $40,000 for farmer support charity Farm Angels.
The convoy travelled for eight days from Perth to Bullara Station to raise awareness of mental health challenges facing farmers.
Organiser Dan Sutherland said he was inspired to bring the charity event to Western Australia after attending a similar drive in Queensland.
Farmer and participant Arran Teakle said the drive helped him see that support networks were available.
The convoy travelled through the Wheatbelt and Gascoyne and stopped in rural towns along the route.
- Who
- Dan Sutherland organised the drive, with car enthusiasts and farmer Arran Teakle among its participants.
- What
- The West Coast Long Drive raised nearly $40,000 for Farm Angels and aimed to raise awareness of farmers’ mental health challenges.
- When
- The drive lasted eight days. The dates are not stated.
- Where
- It travelled from Perth to Bullara Station, through Western Australia’s Wheatbelt and Gascoyne.
- Why
- Sutherland wanted to show appreciation for farmers and raise awareness of mental health challenges and available support.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The convoy set out from Perth and travelled through the Wheatbelt and Gascoyne to Bullara Station.
The group stopped in rural towns and raised nearly $40,000 for Farm Angels.
- Funds raised
- Nearly $40,000 for Farm Angels
- Journey length
- Eight days
- Starting point
- Perth
- Destination
- Bullara Station
- Organiser
- Dan Sutherland
What people are saying
The funding and help are available, but if farmers in Western Australia don't know about it they can't reach out.
You could have a really bad day and all it takes is for someone to say mate, 'I see you, I feel you, I care about you, I respect you and we're here for you'.
We go through a fair bit; we feel a bit left out and it's something that needs addressing.