United by a vital cause …. the Walk N Talk fundraiser is on again in 2026 with a 145 km route that will start and end in Tallimba from 13 July. Photo: Supplied.
The hall at Tallimba has become a springboard for something far greater than the balance beam set up on Tuesday nights to test legs worn by hard work, hard times and a few that have seen better days.
There’s truck driver Ian, retired mechanic foreman Tony, community stalwart and dog breeding assistant Tanya and Meghan, the registered allied health assistant who makes it all happen.
The weekly strength and conditioning class, which attracts up to 12 people, is just one of the wonderful ongoing offshoots of the inaugural Walk ‘n’ Talk fundraiser in 2025.
Last year mates Tony Hopper, 72, and Wayne Hueske, 62, led a 235 km charity walk from Walla Walla to Tallimba to honour a friend lost to suicide and raise awareness for mental health in rural communities.
The nine-day trek attracted an outpouring of support from communities along the route, widespread media attention and raised more than $60,000 for the cause and chosen charity Mongrels Men.
On the back of that success, Tony, Wayne and their supporters are lacing up their boots again for the second Walk n Talk with a Farmer fundraiser from Monday, 13 July.
The team will walk 145 km in six days, starting in Tallimba, travelling through the localities of Mahda, Ariah Park, Mirrool, Beckom and Ardlethan.
This year’s walk is closer to home, taking in a lot of back roads around the district, says event co-ordinator Meghan Hardie, but with the same aim to connect communities and encourage conversations around mental health.
“There’s a whole lot of stuff that goes on in these smaller communities that is often invisible to anyone outside them,” she says.
“There are these little powerhouses doing great work and we hope to shine a light on that.”
The boys from Mongrels Men will once again join the walkers, providing the opportunity for “vital connections” between city and country, according to Meghan.
“Tim (Hewson) will bring a load of city blokes and I think it’s just so important to foster relationships and conversations between very urban men and very rural men,” she says.
“It’s even about the narrative of farming, how farmers do business, how they are stewards of the land and the strength of small communities.
“I think some of that connection and understanding is being lost. People aren’t spending school holidays on their grandparents’ farm or being immersed at all in rural Australia.”
While this year’s walk is not as big, Meghan says its importance has not diminished.
“The boys are keen to keep the Walk N Talk going, both as an activity and a mental health concept,” she says.
“Last year we were fuelled by grief. This year, while that ache is not as severe, the message and need remains the same.”
If any proof of that was needed it lies in stories like the young man from Ardlethan who joined the walk for two days last year after his wife had just left him.
“She was coming to pack up the house and he just got in the car and drove to us and camped in his ute,” Meghan says.
“He got in touch recently to ask if he can walk with us again – I was just so happy to hear from him. He was a really lovely young man and to know that he had a community at the ready to support him … for him to come back is a pretty big indicator of what this walk is about.”
Community camaraderie … the first Walk N Talk fundraiser in 2025 raised more than $60,000 to support mental health initiatives in Riverina communities. Photo: Supplied.
This year the walk will take on a different format, with walkers completing a set number of kilometres each day before returning home rather than spending the entire time on the road.
“The logistics of what we did last year over nine days – I was a bit reluctant,” Meghan laughs.
“This way we can walk, spend time in the town, have dinner with the locals and we are never more than about 45 minutes from home.”
The momentum of that first event has been felt in the 12 months that followed, with the establishment of The Riverina Ramblers initiative in partnership with Mongrels Men.
Supported by the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, the community health project has brought together local men and women through monthly catch-ups, short walks and talk sessions in rural towns across seven communities in the Riverina.
The events have created safe social spaces – away from the local pub – for connection, according to Meghan.
Meanwhile at Tallimba, a core group has remained committed to the cause – and that weekly training schedule.
While the exercises are often met with some mild grumbling, Meghan says it’s been wonderful to see the improvements in people’s strength and fitness during the past 12 months.
“When they ask me, ‘Why do I have to do this?’ I tell them, ‘It’s good for your brain mate!’,” she says.
“I call them the Thinking Man’s Exercises.”
While walk stalwart Tony is a regular at class, his offsider Wayne has been a bit busy with a new work venture but declares he’s walking the entire way come Monday.
“He told me, ‘I’ve got it covered Megs!’,” she laughs.
The inaugural Walk N Talk in 2025 raised $61,000 but it was never just about that, according to Meghan.
“This year, if we raise nothing but mental health awareness that’s enough,” she says. “But we’d also like to raise some money too!”
To this end the team has concocted a new fundraising initiative with participants committing to a raft of sponsorship pledges.
Meghan’s husband Rod kicked off the challenge, offering to complete 1000 push-ups in six days for $1000. Not to be outdone, his wife has pledged to run 10 km in one day for the same amount.
Those who donate can mention their sponsored walker in the comments to keep track of the tally.
You can check out the route, track the progress or support the cause by donating through mycause, visiting the Walk n Talk fundraiser page or Bland Shire Council.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:
Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
