Rebuilding a sense of purpose and providing mental health support with Shelley Rose • RMRS E07
Shelley Rose was the Wellbeing officer for the huge area affected by the 2022 Murray River flood. She is a mental health practitioner and retired financial counsellor who has been deeply rooted in her local Riverland community for over 23 years. Shelley’s first task was understanding the varied needs of flood victims, from primary and […]
Creating Safe Spaces for First Responders with Nick White
Nick is a 50-year-old single dad. He always wanted to join the military and dreamed of becoming a helicopter pilot. He decided instead to join the infantry and later trained as a paratrooper in Australia He was based at Holsworthy. He was eventually medically discharged after injuring his spine in a truck accident. After leaving […]
Reuniting the community and fostering resilience with Julie Ahrens • RMRS E06
Julie Ahrens began her journey as a bonded student teacher, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities in rural Australia. Drawn by job prospects and adventure, Julie moved from to Berri where her passion for teaching and community blossomed. Julie fully immersed herself in the Riverland lifestyle, cherishing the natural beauty and forming deep connections […]
From chasing promotions to a life built with purpose and authenticity with James Pearson
James grew up in the north of England, earning a degree in politics and economics, working various jobs to support himself after university. He visited Australia for the Olympics and decided to stay. He started working in recruitment, which led to opportunities and a new life here. He thrived in the corporate world, pursuing promotions […]
Stepping up to responsibility in a time of crisis with Simone Bailey • RMRS E05
After being an accountant with the Mid Murray Council, Simone had just been elected Mayor when she suddenly faced a major flood crisis, shifting quickly into immediate disaster management. Simone rallied the community, organising meetings and delivering flyers to get everyone up to speed on flood risks and emergency plans. Simone helped to successfully secure […]
Pushing the boundaries of modern medicine to create change with Ben Bravery
Ben was raised by a single mother in Southeast Queensland, who instilled ambition and curiosity, setting the foundation for his diverse and driven future journey. After studying zoology, Ben worked in environmental policy with the Australian Government, but he became disillusioned, realising that meaningful environmental impact required more than policy work. He moved to China […]
Managing emergency communications in a time of need with Ivan Smith • RMRS E04
Born and bred in Renmark, Ivan spent over four decades running his own motor mechanic business before retiring. Passionate about radio communications, Ivan pursued electronics and transitioned into the communications field to avoid heavy manual labour. His expertise landed him a role on the South Australian government radio network, working closely with emergency services like […]
From gambling addiction to finding purpose in helping others with Shay Hare
Shay grew up battling insecurities about his appearance and others’ opinions, with family conflicts deepening his feelings of instability and anger. At 13, Shay found gambling through poker, using it to mask inner pain, akin to a drug’s euphoric escape, initiating a lifelong struggle. Raised in a family where gambling was common, Shay’s early exposure […]
Safeguarding the community and leading a team through natural disaster with Tony Siviour • RMRS E03
Tony Sivour is the general manager of the Renmark Paringa Council in South Australia. Born in Barmera, he’s a long-term Riverlander who returned after gaining valuable local government experience elsewhere. Tony worked tirelessly to protect Renmark during the major 2022 floods. His efforts focused on managing the levees, coordinating with authorities, and keeping the community […]
From paramedic to pilot; a journey of adventure, resilience & creativity with Christian Mortensen
Christian Mortensen grew up in Melbourne with a Jewish mother and an artist dad, weaving his childhood with diverse cultural experiences and unique perspectives. He studied ancient history and anthropology at Melbourne University, then taught first aid courses, laying a foundation for his future in emergency services. Trained as a wilderness EMT in Colorado, Christian […]