Dear Readers,
Is it cliché is I say that the year if flying by? I’m going to say it anyway – it certainly feels like it!
I started 2026 with a new car and as I write this letter in the middle of February, it’s already got 6,000km on the clock. For us who live in rural Australia, covering vast kilometers is a necessity and part of life, but it wasn’t until I was telling a friend that I had completed a 600km round trip for a school sporting event on a Friday and a 400km round trip to purchase groceries you can’t buy in my town on the Saturday and their jaw nearly hit the floor that I realised how the vast distances we travel, irrespective for purpose, is steeped in adaptability and commitment.
For Amber Driver (Federal Councillor), her 5,000km road trip to drop her youngest child back to boarding school might seem exorbitant to some, but was a rare chance to visit family and friends (Pages 44 & 45), while Kimberley Wilson (Julia Creek Branch) dodged road closures and rainfall or her son Zander to start his boarding school journey (Page 22).
These stories remind me that while the kilometres we cover may seem unfathomable to others, behind every long stretch of bitumen is purpose, connection and opportunity. As we roll further into 2026, I hope this edition leaves you feeling seen, supported, and proud of the extraordinary ordinary things we do each day in rural Australia.
Until next time, safe travels—wherever the road leads you. Hannah Calcino
