Travelling Jackaroo: Queensland man rounding Australia at 40km/h for RFDS chugs into Broome

Imagine travelling around Australia at just 40km an hour. That’s what 19-year-old Sam Hughes, also known as The Travelling Jackaroo, has been doing for the past year and a half, chugging across the country on his bright orange tractor, all in the name of charity. Arriving in Broome at the tail end of last week Mr Hughes, who hails from Maleny in Queensland, has raised more than $102,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and charities such as Dolly’s Dream while on his travels. Starting in Queensland and doing a loop of the country at just 40km/h, a plan which he estimates will take him more than three years to complete, Mr Hughes said he had no choice but to learn patience. “Patience is a skill that takes a while to develop but once you do it is a beautiful skill to have,” he said. Coming up with the idea while still in high school Mr Hughes said he worked and saved his money so he could bring his idea to fruition. In order to make a statement and better attract potential donations Mr Hughes purchased a bright orange tractor and built a matching trailer, finishing it off by attaching an old aeroplane to the roof. “It took about a year to design and build it and I’m always adding to it,” he said. “It was a dream of mine and I just thought if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right.” Mr Hughes said it’s not just about raising money, its about raising awareness. “A word is worth more than a dollar,” he said. “There’s not a lot of support for people out here, especially with mental health. If there’s more awareness about how inadequate a lot of the services are out here, I think something might be done about it. “A lot of people are struggling all across the country, especially in rural areas, and they just need their voices heard.” You can follow Mr Hughes’ adventures by going to The Travelling Jackaroo on Facebook www.facebook.com/thetravellingjackaroo