Art is everywhere, whether it’s a vibrant mural on a wall or an oil painting in a gallery. It can even be sculptures doubling as bike racks or shiny silver spheres in a mall. These are the stories of some of the people who’ve created street art here in SA.

A connection to country

“I love being able to paint and honour people, to show how they’ve dedicated their whole lives to their own practice,” says Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Arrernte artist Thomas Readett.

We’re standing on East Terrace at Tandanya at Thomas’ mural of well-known Indigenous actor David Gulpilil. The mural was commissioned by ABCG Film in collaboration with Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Thomas says he wanted to show David’s journey from the start of his career to the end.

“The portrait on the left is from his first movie, and the landscape next to it is Yolngu Country, which is at the top end of the Northern Territory – that’s where he’s from,” Thomas says.

“I’ve then used a horizon line to connect it to the Riverland on the other side, and the landscape on the right is Murray Bridge on Ngarrindjeri Country, which is my country and where David lived for the last part of his life.

“I think it’s nice to think about the journey in terms of the Country, the scale of where [David] started and finished, and also the scale of his career.”

Thomas has completed dozens of murals across South Australia, collaborating with communities to create art that reflects the local area. While painting, Thomas enjoys interacting with the public and discussing what the art means to him.

“I do a lot of lived experience stuff as well about mental health, and take inspiration from lots of different things.”

Benches creating changes

The humble bench is a place to sit, relax and rest one’s weary legs. It’s even where you can sit and have a chat. But with a bit of paint, creativity and plenty of talent, they can become an object for change and awareness.

South Australian street artist Leah Grant has turned several benches across Adelaide into art to help promote respect, equality and safety for women in our community. The artwork was part of a project on the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2022.

Leah partnered with women from Catherine House, a not-for-profit that provides crisis accommodation and support services to women experiencing homelessness. The project also involved students from Sturt Street Community School.

“I really loved this project because I had ladies from Catherine House talking and painting with me… it was really interesting and educational,” Leah says.

“We talked to school kids about what symbol they’d like to put on the bench to show what love and safety means to them.”

Five benches on Sturt Street were painted in various colours and included messages of hope and butterflies – the symbol for the day.

“I think we need to talk about [violence against women] more, but it’s one of those things where we have to protect the privacy of these women, so their stories aren’t always shared,” Leah says.

“So how do we also raise awareness without jeopardising their safety?

“Having these benches in a public space shows the power of art. Even when we were installing them, people were stopping and asking questions, so that helps raise awareness.”

The little mural town

In 2016, Kapunda, on the outer reaches of the Barossa Valley, had a problem. Like a lot of smaller regional towns across South Australia, many of the main street shopfronts were empty.

A group of concerned locals came together and formed the Kapunda Mural Town Project committee. They started to research how they could use art and murals to encourage visitors and increase business in Kapunda. Then, they started painting.

Kapunda Mural Town Project and Silo Art Committee Chairperson Maxine Donald says the murals depict the town.

“A lot of the art relates to the history of the town, because we have a very rich history in mining, particularly copper,” Maxine says. “While most of it is historically based art, there are also decorative murals.”

A mural on the local post office was the first to be painted and was nominated for the Australian Street Art Awards.

There are currently 14 pieces of art scattered around the town’s main street, and visitors can use a map available from the local visitor centre to follow a Kapunda mural trail.

“A lot of visitors have started coming to look at the murals,” Maxine says. “We’ve seen an influx of people coming up for the day from Adelaide because we’re only an hour from the CBD.

“There aren’t so many empty shops, and there’s been an increase in development and housing, that’s not just due to the murals but the art has improved morale in the town.”

In 2024, the committee started its biggest project yet – painting the town’s decommissioned silos.

A little more than a year later, the 30-metre-high silos were painted by renowned street artist Sam Bates, also known as Smug.

Depicting the town’s copper mining history, the mural features a miner standing in a tunnel with a candle attached to his helmet.

Maxine says there was a huge response from the town.

“It was such a community effort, and because we kept the concept under wraps, people watched it evolve,” Maxine says. “But once it was finished the response was positive and everyone was rapt.”

The post Behind the art: SA artists uncovered appeared first on samove.com.au.

Is there a community cause you care about? RAA’s Grassroots Giving program is now receiving applications.

Since 2019, Grassroots Giving has supported communities across South Australia. In 2025, disadvantaged South Australian children and babies, and orphaned kangaroos were just some of the recipients who benefited from the annual grants program.

And, in 2023 RAA focused on helping communities rebuild after the summer floods, with eight groups in the Riverland receiving funding.

Key areas where RAA looks to support local community groups include helping disadvantaged and/or vulnerable South Australians, assisting youth development, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reconciliation activities, reducing inequalities in the community, innovation, and environmental sustainability.

RAA Grassroots Giving funding pool has been boosted to $150,000 by the new Community Impact Fund. Applications close 6 April 2026, and each successful applicant will be awarded up to $5000 in funding.

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Rifling through your linen closet (or your grandma’s), you may find an iconic piece of South Australian history.

Perhaps a thick, woollen blanket or picnic rug, or maybe even a lightweight airline knee rug lifted from an early Ansett flight. If you spy a label proudly professing it as an “Onkaparinga” production made in Australia, you’re holding a treasure from South Australia’s past.

Once, the clatter of machinery filled the small Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal, resounding from the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill. Today, the cluster of red-brick buildings still stand beside the river. The clatter is replaced by laughter and conversation as creativity drifts through the same spaces. This is FABRIK Arts + Heritage – a place where history lingers and contemporary culture thrives.

When industry blossomed in Lobethal

FABRIK’s story began in 1872, when a woollen mill was established on the banks of a tributary to the Onkaparinga River on the traditional lands of the Peramangk and Kaurna people. Water was essential to early textile production, and the Onkaparinga River – known as Ngangkipari in Kaurna language meaning women’s river – represented both resource and setting. By 1928, the river had influenced the name of the factory when it became Onkaparinga Woollen Mill.

At the time, Lobethal was a modest agricultural settlement shaped by German Lutheran farming communities. The growth of the Mill changed everything. Large-scale manufacturing took hold, transforming the town into one of SA’s most significant regional industrial centres.

Originally named Lobethal Wool and Tweed Company, over the years it became famous for its distinctive checked Onkaparinga blankets, as well as a wide range of textiles that travelled far beyond the region.

The Mill supplied textiles during both world wars – including uniforms, blankets, and fabric – and its World War I contributions resulted in Lobethal being renamed Tweedvale for 18 years.

For more than a century, the Mill was not just a workplace and prolific manufacturer – it was the heartbeat of the town.

Life built around the looms

At its height, the Mill employed hundreds of people; sometimes close to 1000. As the Mill grew, Lobethal grew with it and the rhythms of daily life followed the pulse of production.

Social life and working life were deeply intertwined. Sporting clubs (tennis and croquet being the most popular), choirs and social groups were filled with Mill workers.

Women formed a significant part of the workforce, valued for their skill and precision in textile production. Skilled British workers arrived, followed after World War II by European migrants, bringing new languages, traditions and techniques that added further texture to Lobethal’s identity.

A new creative chapter

When the Mill closed in 1993, the town felt the loss deeply. The looms stopped, and a defining chapter came to an end.

Adelaide Hills Council acquired the site, and slowly it began to evolve. First, it became a hub for start-up opportunities. Small food, wine, engineering and craft businesses moved in and markets popped up. Temporary exhibitions and informal museum displays appeared. Locals continued to gather, drawn by habit, nostalgia and possibility.

The turning point came in 2015, when local arts organisation h.ART began activating the old Mill buildings with exhibitions, performances and cultural events.

Community consultation followed and in 2018, Adelaide Hills Council committed to developing the precinct as a permanent arts and heritage hub. The name FABRIK, taken from the German word for factory or mill, honours both the site’s industrial textile past and Lobethal’s German heritage.

Renewal in the Hills

After the devastating 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfires, government recovery funding and Council investment supported a major redevelopment of the site.

Restored historic buildings have retained their industrial character, while contemporary additions – most notably a light-filled glass retail pavilion – have created open, welcoming spaces. Event spaces sit beside workshop spaces, with studios and even accommodation for artists in residence.

FABRIK officially reopened in September 2024, marking the beginning of a new era for the site.

Visiting FABRIK today

For travellers exploring the Adelaide Hills, FABRIK Arts + Heritage is both a destination and an opportunity to pause, slow down and soak up local culture.

Visitors can wander through galleries showcasing exhibitions and contemporary textile art, peek into publicly accessible artists’ and makers’ studios and watch creativity in action. Museum displays throughout the buildings tell the story of the Mill, the town and the people who shaped this place.

The retail pavilion offers a carefully curated selection of South Australian art, textiles, homewares and artisan goods – perfect for thoughtful souvenirs. Throughout the year, workshops, markets, exhibitions and artist residencies bring the precinct to life, making each visit slightly different from the last.

FABRIK also continues to play an important role providing opportunities for the community to come together, and share the experience of being creative.

No visit to the Adelaide Hills is complete without stopping by the heritage woollen mill site. In these buildings where iconic blankets were once made, FABRIK is now weaving its own story.

During February 2026, RAA members visiting FABRIK Arts + Heritage can receive a special gift. Show your RAA membership card in the Gallery Shop and mention the code RAA+FABRIK to claim your free A5 journal, a perfect little something to keep for yourself or to give to someone special.

The post Weaving past with present in the Hills appeared first on samove.com.au.

If Colonel William Light’s Adelaide town plan had been fully implemented, there’d be a canal running down the centre of Port Road linking the River Torrens to Port Adelaide.

Goods could’ve been ferried from the coast to the city at a time when sea cargo was the only cargo. The project proved too expensive and we’re now left with an odd parkland sandwiched between six lanes of traffic.

If Governor Hindmarsh had his way, the CBD would be at Port Adelaide, thus rendering footy showdowns pointless.

In the early days of settlement, Hindmarsh and Light rarely got along, even though it was Hindmarsh who recommended Light be employed as Surveyor-General. Disagreements among the fledgling colony’s powerbrokers eventually led to Light resigning in June 1838. A month later, less than two years after his arrival in SA, Hindmarsh was recalled to London.

Before he left, he shrewdly snapped up some good chunks of land, including a sizeable patch en route to the Port. When subdivided it became the township of Hindmarsh.

In the centre of town was a public reserve named Lindsay Circus. This eventually became Hindmarsh Oval, the home ground of West Torrens Football Club from 1905 to 1921, and more recently Coopers Stadium. Go Reds!

Any A-League fan who’s parked on the south side of the River Torrens on game day will have crossed the small bridge at the end of Holland Street. Fans may not be aware the bridge was engineered by John Monash – later, General Sir John Monash – who in 1918 commanded all of Australia’s troops during World War I in Europe.

Monash University in Melbourne and the town of Monash in the Riverland were named in his honour, while his likeness graces the $100 note.

The small building that became the impressive Hindmarsh town hall was built in 1860 and extended in 1886. Through the years, it’s housed the Star Picture Theatre, a library and a rollerdrome, and it’s now an Education Development Centre. The art-deco frontage was added in 1936.

Images above show the town hall before and after the art deco makeover, and the Holland Street Bridge. 1928 B&W image: State Library of South Australia B 4830

The Hindmarsh Cemetery was established in 1846 on land that was originally set aside for a market. The small brick shed on-site was once known as the “dead house” due to the many bodies stored there during the 1918–19 flu pandemic, which caused more than 50 million fatalities worldwide

In 1930 the Torrens flooded, washing away part of the cemetery and sweeping six buried bodies downstream.

These days, a deluge on that scale is hard to imagine but flooding was a serious issue until mitigation programs were undertaken. The Torrens used to empty into a wetland behind the West Beach dunes, and during times of high flow the water would travel south to the Patawalonga outlet and north to the Port River.

Before its development as a housing estate, West Lakes was part of this system.

The artificial outlet at Henley Beach South/West Beach was built in 1937, and in the ’60s the construction of the Kangaroo Creek Reservoir further reduced flooding.

The Hindmarsh Fire and Folk Museum is housed in the old volunteer fire station near the Manton Street entrance to Coopers Stadium. A 1927 Chevrolet fire engine sits pride of place among the displays. The museum houses a wealth of local artefacts and a fascinating collection of historic photos.

The volunteer staff are the full bottle on local history and are also involved in the maintenance and restoration of exhibits. 

The museum is open every Wednesday from 9am–1pm and at night by special arrangement.

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Before the first English settler ships moored in Holdfast Bay, the Marion area was home to the Kaurna people.

The Warripari (Sturt River) and surrounding bushland provided a smorgasbord of food, along with material for building shelters and making tools and baskets.  

The sharp river bend just south of Sturt Road was an important meeting place known as Warriparinga, meaning “windy place by the creek.”

It’s now an idyllic park with magnificent eucalypts, a wetland, sculptures and an extensive lawned area.

It’s also home to the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, which has an art gallery and gift shop, and hosts a range of cultural tours.

European settlers were soon drawn to the river’s water supply and surrounding fertile soil. Only two years after the first fleet’s 1836 arrival in Adelaide, Surveyor-General Colonel William Light’s team had surveyed the village of Marion.

The origin of the suburb’s name is unclear, but some historians believe it was named after the daughter of the state’s first Resident Commissioner, James Hurtle Fisher, although her name was Marianne.

Before 100-year-old Marianne Fisher passed away in 1927, she was the last surviving passenger from the HMS Buffalo – the most well-known ship in South Australia’s first fleet.   

Adelaide’s garden

In the early days, most of the area was taken up by market gardens, vineyards and fruit and almond orchards.

The now-renowned Hamilton wine family planted extensive vineyards and by 1841 they’d established one of the state’s first commercial wineries – some say the first.

In 1843, grape grower Samuel Keane bought a massive 240-acre (97-hectare) tract of land, sight unseen, from his Liverpool home in England. His property lay within the area now bounded by Oaklands Road, Marion Road, Morphett Road and Dwyer Road/Railway Terrace, with only the small, surveyed village of Marion precluded.

Oaklands, the 22-room house Keane built, was the largest mansion in the state at the time. It was demolished in 1967 in anticipation of a MATS plan freeway that never eventuated, and the buried wreckage lies beneath the Oaklands Estate Reserve car park.

Of all the vines planted in the district, only a few remnant vineyards remain, including:

• Marion Heritage Vines on the corner of Oaklands Road and Hendrie Street, Park Holme, beside Marion Outdoor Pool.
• A small vineyard on the south-east corner of Oaklands Estate Reserve in Oaklands Park.
• A sliver of vines at the end of Warriparinga Way, beside the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre in Bedford Park.

These vines are now maintained by Patritti Wines in Dover Gardens.

From the 1930s to the 1950s, busloads of interstate visitors arrived in late winter and early spring to enjoy a snow-like wonderland of almond blossoms.

At the height of this agricultural venture, Marion supplied a third of Australia’s almonds. Historic almond orchard enthusiasts can view a remnant stand of trees in Oliphant Avenue Reserve, Marion.

Bustling ‘burb

By the 1950s, housing development was rapidly replacing the district’s farmland. The Sturt River’s seasonal flooding, which once irrigated the market gardens and orchards, became a nuisance to homeowners.

The South-Western Suburbs Drainage Act 1959 was implemented between 1960 and 1971, and saw the river become a concrete-lined channel from Sturt Road, Bedford Park to the Patawalonga Creek at Glenelg North.

The Sturt River Linear Park Trail follows the river past historic sites, parks and playgrounds from Main South Road, Darlington to Pine Avenue, Novar Gardens.

Walking the past

History buffs can explore Marion Historic Village on the 2km-long self-guided heritage walk. The trail passes several historic sites and other features, including:

• The old Marion Hotel, built in 1851.
• The remnant almond trees in Oliphant Avenue Reserve.
• The brickwork’s manager’s cottage (circa 1900) beside George Street Reserve, which was once a pug hole for sourcing brickmaking clay.
• Light Square, honouring Colonel William Light (local streets, including Finniss, Nixon and Jacob are named after partners in Light’s surveying firm. Boyle Travers Finniss later became SA’s first Premier).

Walkers can also enjoy a Pokémon-esque hunt for five Little Marion sculptures (main image) dotted along the trail. Created by sculptor Gerry McMahon, the art installations were inspired by Margaret Pill’s (nee Western) memoir Yesterday’s Child, which recalls her time growing up in Marion in the 1930s.

The post Meet Marion appeared first on samove.com.au.

There’s no doubt South Australia’s regional communities are doing it tough, whether it’s due to drought or the ongoing algal bloom along the coast.

We spoke to a few people about how these natural disasters are impacting them and how they’re fighting back.

Dealing with drought on the Yorke Peninsula

“From December last year to May this year, it was definitely the driest period we’ve had in our lifetimes,” says central Yorke Peninsula farmer Katrina Nankivell.

“There wasn’t a blade of green anywhere and trying to keep stock alive during that period was very difficult.”

Katrina and her husband Ashley have cattle and crops on their Maitland farm, which has been in the family for six generations.

The couple’s daughter and their grandchildren also help on the farm regularly.

Between February 2024 and March of this year, the Yorke Peninsula recorded its lowest rainfall since at least 1900, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Katrina and Ashley had an average harvest in 2024, but the dry conditions in early 2025 has them concerned about this year’s crops.

“In the back of your mind, you don’t know whether it’s going to rain during spring or be drier than usual,” Katrina says.

The drought doesn’t just impact farmers but the whole community.

“When there are dry conditions, everyone tightens their belts,” Katrina says. “People will put machinery purchases and other things like that on hold because you just don’t know what the next year brings.

“There’s definitely a flow-on effect through the community.”

Thankfully the Nankivells had enough hay stockpiled to feed their cattle during the driest period. Without knowing what lies ahead, they’ve taken advantage of government grants to buy rainwater tanks to capture water from the shed roof.

They’ve also bought water troughs for the stock as well as more grain storage. Yorke Peninsula isn’t the only area doing it tough, with other South Australian regions also experiencing drought conditions.

“I would say the epicentre of the drought is in the Mid North region of the state, so around Jamestown and that area,” Katrina says. “I have family at Hallett and it’s been very dry for about two or three years, so longer than here.”

Years of drought in the Mid-North

Grant Chapman whose farm is near Orroroo in the state’s Mid North, has experienced drought conditions for about three years.

The fifth-generation farmer had crops and livestock on his farm until about three years ago, when he decided to stop cropping and focus solely on sheep.

He was running about 2000 breeding ewes but had to reduce that to about 1200 due to the recent drought.

“We had to sell quite a few of our breeding stock and reduce our numbers because we weren’t able to feed that many,” Grant says.

“We were into our third year of poor seasons or drought, but we’ve had good rain since July, so things have improved dramatically feed-wise in our area.

“I think the feed drought is probably finished, but the financial drought is far from over.”

Grant had to change his farming practices while dealing with the drought, relying on confinement feeding – when farmers keep livestock in pens or small paddocks – and investing in hay and pellets to feed them.

“It’s been a huge outlay of money to keep the stock we’ve got,” he says. “But, it will take about two to three years to bounce back if we have a couple of good seasons now.”

Grant says the Mid North community has come together to help each other by supporting local businesses and holding drought-related events.

“Getting people together and talking about the drought with your friends, neighbours and community is good,” he says. “I think that probably goes a large way to helping with the problem. A problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t it?”

Seas under siege

About 50 fishing families operate out of the Gulf St Vincent, providing seafood to South Australians and the world.

So, when they can’t fish due to the state’s current algal bloom crisis, there are ramifications for both commercial fishers and the wider community.

Port Wakefield-based commercial fisher Bart Butson has been in the business for about 35 years and is a third-generation fisherman.

He first noticed the algal bloom in the Gulf St Vincent in June, with the water becoming cloudy and turning green.

“It progressed over several weeks and we noticed cuttlefish dying,” Bart says. “There were hundreds and hundreds of them floating of the surface – it was terrible to see.”

Bart had to stop fishing and is now living off savings while he waits to see if he qualifies for an Algal Bloom Support Package from the State Government.

First detected in March 2025, the algal bloom has spread across parts of the South Australian coast, impacting Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre peninsulas, Gulf St Vincent, Port River, West Lakes, Kangaroo Island, and Spencer Gulf.

Bart says the southern section of the Yorke Peninsula, where locals rely more on tourism, has been hit hard.

“Tourism has slowed down because people aren’t going there to go fishing,” Bart says. “People go down to the bottom of Yorke Peninsula to either go fishing or be by the seaside, and people are worried about [the algal bloom].

“It’s caused widespread economic downturns, which is having a real impact on local businesses.”

While many South Australian coastal regions are doing it tough due to the algal bloom, Bart says locals have come together.

“The community do pull together to share their challenges and lobby for assistance,” he says. “I’ve seen a real togetherness, and I think that’s what will get us through in the end.”

While he’s been unable to fish, Bart has been advocating for other commercial fishers, attending a Senate Inquiry in September. He’s also hoping to work with State Government researchers to assess the impact of the algal bloom.

Although Bart’s been keeping himself busy, the impact of the algal bloom has impacted his mental health.

“I’m struggling a little bit as all of the fishermen in my position are,” he says. “Personally, I’ve kept myself busy advocating on behalf of the industry, but there are about 50 fishing families that operate in this area, and we’re struggling in one way or another.”

So, how can we help the coastal regions impacted by the algal bloom?

“These regions are still great to visit, and we really need people to come to the regions and just look at all the other attractions we have, whether it’s museums or walking trails,” Bart says.

“So, come to the regions, and support us because we really need it.”

The post Our resilient regions appeared first on samove.com.au.

In recent years, female cricketers have become important role models for young girls around the country.

As WBBL|11 ramps up for another year, Adelaide Strikers all-rounder Jemma Barsby has some advice for young girls looking to improve their cricket skills.

“Take the time to go down to the nets, even away from structured training, and hit hundreds of balls, but most importantly have fun,” Jemma says.

Strikers teammate Ellie Johnston echoes this sentiment saying hitting and throwing balls is the best way to get better.

“There’s not much more to it,” Ellie says.

“You need hard work and a bit of luck to go your way.”

The duo is part of the current Adelaide Strikers squad competing in the 2025-26 WBBL season.

Both Ellie and Jemma hail from Queensland, but now call South Australia home, playing for the Strikers and the state’s first-class side.

Ellie moved to Adelaide in 2024 from the Sunshine State after losing her contract with the Queensland state side.

“I moved down here with nothing and thankfully I picked up a contract a couple months later,” Ellie says. “The initial move was very challenging.”

Jemma played for the Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers before joining the Adelaide Strikers in 2021.

We had a quick chat to Jemma and Ellie about their time playing cricket in South Australia.

Quick-fire questions with Jemma and Ellie

sa move: Teammate with the quirkiest pre-game ritual?

Jemma: Bridget Patterson went through a phase of lighting a candle in the change room, just in her little area.

Ellie: Maddie Penna likes the energy drinks before every single game we play.

sa move: Best player you’ve played with or against?

Jemma: We’ve been lucky in the WBBL to have a lot of international players come over and play in our competition. Being a bowler, I’ve bowled against a few including Sophie Devine – she smacked me around a bit so she’s up there.

Ellie: I played with Amelia Kerr – she’s the queen of New Zealand cricket so that was pretty good.

sa move: Batting or bowling?

Jemma: Bowling – I feel like you get more chances.

Ellie: Batting! It’s a batter’s game – we’re the entertainment.

sa move: Funniest cricket moment?

Ellie: I was going for a catch in under 10s and we were taught to just put our legs together. The ball was nicked, and it just rolled up and into my hands – that was insane.

sa move: Favourite place to eat in Adelaide?

Jemma: Golden Boy, I take everyone there. I think I even took Ellie there.

Ellie: Golden Boy for sure.

sa move: Favourite holiday spot in South Australia?

Jemma: I love going to McLaren Vale and doing a day at the wineries – it’s pretty cool down there.

Ellie: Rapid Bay – I went there a bit last summer and it was pretty cool.

The post Take five with the Adelaide Strikers appeared first on samove.com.au.

Disadvantaged South Australian children and babies, and orphaned kangaroos are just some of the recipients that will benefit from the latest round of RAA’s Grassroots Giving program.

Orphaned roo rescue

“This donation is hugely impactful and enables us to continue the work we’re doing,” says Adelaide Hills Kangaroo Rescue (AHKR) director Linda White.

The wildlife rescue service, which rehabilitates injured and orphaned kangaroos often found on the roadside, is just one of this year’s RAA Grassroots Giving recipients.

The Grassroots Giving program provides grants to community groups involved in a variety of areas, including community safety, helping vulnerable South Australians, youth development and environmental sustainability.

Since its launch in 2019, the program has contributed nearly half a million dollars to more than 90 organisations striving to improve the lives of South Aussies.

Linda says the Macclesfield-based not-for-profit needs funding to build an extended rehabilitation area to support the growing number of orphaned joeys rescued in South Australia.

“As urban expansion and regional travel increase, wildlife-vehicle collisions are becoming more frequent on country roads,” Linda says.

The kangaroo rescue team also supports motorists, who often feel distressed after hitting a kangaroo.

“We offer a trusted point of contact, and reassurance that help is available,” Linda says.

AHKR receives about 250 call-outs a year, and the new enclosure will allow more room for the organisation to accept young kangaroos.

The enclosure will provide a safe, natural environment for joeys to build strength and socialise, until they’re ready for release into sanctuary care.

“We value working with good organisations like RAA who support local causes, as well as safety on country roads,” Linda says.

Visit AHKR’s Facebook or Instagram to find out more about how the organisation takes care of South Australian wildlife.

Boxes of treasure for the littlies

Treasure Boxes is another SA not-for-profit organisation to receive a Grassroots Giving grant this year.

The Edwardstown-based charity helps disadvantaged children and babies by providing essential items, including clothes, warm bedding, cots, car seats, nappies and feeding equipment.

Treasure Boxes CEO Gena Notley explains there’s always a need for cots and mattresses, and it’s a struggle to meet the high demand with donated items.

“Grassroots funding enabled us to purchase 30 new baby cots for families in crisis,” Gena says.

“These families would be facing the unimaginable challenge of not having a safe place for their babies to sleep without this support.”

Gena says every cot delivered is a message to a parent that they’re not forgotten, and that their child matters.

“It provides emotional relief for parents, practical support for over-stretched social workers, and inspiration to our volunteers,” she says.

“Many of our recipients experience severe financial hardship, have fled domestic violence households, or they’re new arrivals who’ve reached Australia with only the clothes on their backs.

“For a small organisation like ours, this grant is both validation and encouragement, and gives us the capacity to meet an urgent and growing need.”

Visit treasureboxes.org.au to learn more about Treasure Boxes and how you can get involved.

2025 RAA Grassroots Giving Recipients

Adelaide Hills Kangaroo Rescue
Artist in Residence – Wiltja Boarding Avenues College
Australian Dental Foundation
Australian Refugee Foundation
Baptist Care SA
Defence Kidz
Feast Festival
JDRF One Walk Adelaide
Kilkenny Primary School
Macclesfield Community Pantry – Mount Barker Community House
Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group Incorporated
Port Adelaide District Baseball Club
Raiise Pty Ltd
Red Tree Foundation: A SIDS & Kids Initiative
RFDS Riverland Support Group
Robogals
Rotary Club of Murray Bridge
St John’s Youth Services
Treasure Boxes Inc
Young Carers SA
Vietnam Veteran Federation SA Branch
Zahra Foundation Australia

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