More than a fitness group

Boosting the physical and mental health of rural communities is the focus of a new partnership between grassroots health initiative Fat Farmers and iconic charity The Hospital Research Foundation Group.

The Hospital Research Foundation Group has come on board as Fat Farmers’ Major Health Partner, to help the life-changing program expand into more towns and encourage exercise and social connection amongst isolated farmers.

Fat Farmers is a farmer-led initiative founded on the Yorke Peninsula 12 years ago when three 40-something farmers joked they were getting ‘fat’ once their footy careers ended.

Since then, the fitness venture has grown to be in 18 towns across South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria with about 150 participants – meeting a huge need in boosting rural health amongst men in particular.

Michael Williams, who is the general manager of the initiative in South Australia, has been at the forefront of setting up groups in the Limestone Coast, with the Millicent group thriving.

“I was living in Millicent after retiring in 2023 and rural farming has always been close to my heart since I was a child, so after talking to my accountant he introduced me to his brother who runs a Fat Farmers group over on Yorke Peninsula and so I said I would love to volunteer assisting to deliver the 5000 free calendars to towns all over the South East and Western Victoria to spread the awareness of this Rural Health Initiative,” Michael said. “Since then I was offered to come on as the general manager of Fat Farmers to assist run and grow the presence all over South Australia and further interstate.”

Michael touched base with a local gym owner in Millicent and the rest, as they say, is history.

He was introduced to Nicole Croser and with the assistance of her husband Sam started a Facebook group chat to try and generate some interest in a Millicent Fat Farmers group.

“They invited their mates from surrounding farms to come have a look at what Fat Farmers was doing for them and their community to keep fit and active off farm and since early 2024 it has been going strong with a good turnout of farmers each Friday morning at the local gym,” Michael said. “We also had a social event recently at the local Golf Club with a round of golf followed by a Lamb on the Spit shared with partners and children.

“The main benefit is the fitness but the connecting and off farm new habits is proving to be successful amongst the farmers especially in tough times.”

Michael is now looking to roll out the concept across the region and in conversations with many locals in surrounding towns.

“We are confident new groups will form in 2024 in Naracoorte, Bordertown, Kingston and hopefully Robe & Penola in the near future,” he said.

Mount Gambier is looking to reinstate its group with Tammy White of Active8 Fitness ready to run a weekly Farmers fitness group.

“Our Mount Gambier farmer champion had to excuse himself suddenly from assisting so we now need a community minded farmer or farmer’s wife to help promote the group and encourage others to come along,” Michael said.

“An ideal recipe to run a successful group in each town is to have two local champions. One being a farmer and/or farmers partner who can invite and encourage other farmer mates to come along for an all fitness level workout, all while making some new connections and chat about life.”

“The second champion ideally is someone in the fitness industry to host the classes and run things from their establishment or local oval. Fat Farmers will also donate some funds to get a group started plus help pay for some gym shirts with the Fat Farmers logo on them.”

The tongue-in-cheek Fat Farmers accept all people regardless of whether they are ‘fat’, thin, or just needing additional motivation to get active.

The offerings in each town differ, with some groups doing regular gym workouts or others getting together for a run.

By teaming up with The Hospital Research Foundation Group, the passionate volunteers are looking to get into more towns and expand their impact across more communities.

The Hospital Research Foundation Group CEO Paul Flynn said the two-year partnership was all about improving health in country areas.

“It’s no secret that regional communities have poorer health outcomes due to reduced access to GPs, services and delays in care,” Paul said.

“If we can get in at the prevention stage, helping people to live a healthier lifestyle and be active, then we’re one step closer to improving the overall health of regional communities.

“Fat Farmers is a great vehicle to improve not only physical health, but mental health and wellbeing.

Men don’t always have to catch up at the pub, we can flip that idea on its head and set a great example for the next generation.”

If you’re interested in starting a Fat Farmers group in your town, learn more at www.fatfarmers.com or call 0436 281 875.