Junee prepares hometown welcome for Sam Longmore

JUNEE is preparing to give former local Samantha Longmore a hometown welcome as she reaches the halfway point of her extraordinary 441-kilometre wheelchair journey across the Riverina in support of rural mental health.

After setting off from Corowa on Saturday morning, Sam is expected to roll into Junee on Tuesday afternoon, having pushed herself around 230 kilometres in her everyday wheelchair using only the left side of her body.

To mark the milestone, the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory will host a community fundraiser from 3pm through until 8pm, inviting locals to cheer Sam across the halfway mark before she continues her journey towards Yass.

Sam pictured before rolling out of Corowa on Saturday morning | Image: Facebook/Corowa Whisky and Chocolate

The afternoon will feature woodfired pizzas, coffee, sweet treats, live music, face painting, raffles and fundraising activities, with Wagga’s newest dessert destination, BomBom, also making its Junee debut with its first-ever pop-up.

Sam’s challenge aims to raise $200,000 for Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell, while encouraging conversations around mental health in rural and regional Australia.

As of Monday evening, she’d already raised more than $65,000, with donations continuing to pour in as she makes her way across the Riverina.

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Challenging conditions

Monday marked the third day of Sam’s remarkable journey, with the former Junee local rolling through The Rock and Uranquinty before eventually pulling up for the night near Kapooka, about six kilometres short of Wagga.

The picture-perfect conditions that greeted her over the opening two days have disappeared, with rain, strong winds and bitterly cold temperatures forecast to make the remainder of the challenge significantly tougher.

She rolled out of Henty early on Monday, hoping to stay ahead of the deteriorating weather, and made good progress before reaching The Rock shortly before 2pm, where the crew encountered their first burst of heavy rain.

Travelling in the support van behind Sam, crew members Shantelle and Chloe said the change in conditions hadn’t slowed her determination.

“We’ve just been hit with a bit of a downpour, but Sam’s still out there, going super strong,” they said.

After a quick stop to have her ankle re-strapped, Sam pushed on through Uranquinty and continued towards Wagga in fading light.

Despite her determination to keep going, the team made the decision to stop near Kapooka after darkness fell and traffic volumes increased, ending Day 3 with around 180 kilometres behind her.

Rain, strong winds and bitterly cold conditions are forecast to continue across the route over the coming days, with more than 30 millimetres expected to fall before Wednesday.

Daytime temperatures are also forecast to plunge later in the week, with a maximum of just 11 degrees expected when Sam reaches Yass on Saturday.

The looming weather prompted the team to push an extra 17 kilometres on Sunday, extending the day’s planned finish from Culcairn to Henty in an effort to get ahead of the rain.

“I’m trying to get ahead of the rain and making sure I’m functioning for what will be a tough trek the last four days of the week with hilly and wet terrain,” Sam said.

Sam was joined by a group of mates on the ride out of Albury on Sunday morning | Image: Supplied

180 kilometres and counting

Just three days in, The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose has already tested Sam’s endurance.

She pushed 62 kilometres from Corowa to Albury on Saturday before backing it up with another mammoth effort on Sunday, travelling through Gerogery and Culcairn before finishing in Henty.

The extra push saw Sam finish Day 2 with 128.5 kilometres under her belt, the equivalent of more than three marathons in just two days.

“Sunday was a tough day, a big day,” she said.

“Almost 66 kilometres. It was tough going. The last seven kilometres felt like they went for 27.

Monday was even tougher.

Despite the physical toll, she said the overwhelming support from motorists and communities along the route had kept her spirits high.

“It’s been great out on the road,” she said. “I’ve got a little shin and ankle thing going on, but we’re sorting it out.”

“I’m loving the horn-honking. Everyone has been so incredible and I’m enjoying myself. We have picked up a few cash donations along the way.”

“Thank you again for the support. If you can donate, please do.”

Sam’s sister, Sal, joined her for a 10-kilometre run on the road to Albury on Saturday afternoon | Image: Supplied

Strong support

Travelling alongside Sam is a support van carrying family and close friends, which has become the crew’s home on wheels throughout the eight-day trek.

Rather than staying in hotels, they’re camping each night while following her from town to town, helping keep her fuelled, hydrated and moving forward.

They’re not just cheering from the sidelines either. Sam’s sister, Sal, ran about 21 kilometres alongside her over the opening two days, while a group of friends joined her on the road out of Albury.

The support has also extended beyond the crew.

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory managing director Neil Druce and head of marketing Rhiannon Druce met Sam about seven kilometres outside Henty on Sunday evening, with Rhiannon jogging alongside her for the final stretch into town.

“Neil and I were there for the last seven kilometres last night and helped her into Henty,” Rhiannon said.

“It was going on dark and there was no way we weren’t going to help her get to the Day 2 finish.”

Rhiannon Druce of the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory joined Sam on the road into Henty | Image: Facebook/Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

She said joining Sam on the road, even briefly, highlighted the enormity of what she had already achieved.

“It was truly inspirational to get even a small taste of what she’s already completed on this journey.”

“Sam is determined. It’s bloody cold, doing this in winter adds an extra layer of difficulty.”

The road to Junee

Sam is expected to roll out from Kapooka about 7am on Tuesday before continuing towards Junee.

At this stage, Sam plans to remain on the Olympic Highway into town, tackling two of Junee’s steepest climbs on the final approach – the long ascent into Junee from the highway, known locally as the ‘mad mile’, followed by the sharp climb over Kemp Street.

After conquering the hills, she’ll make her way through town to the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, where the community will be waiting to welcome her across the halfway mark.

Organisers say they’ll have a clearer indication of Sam’s arrival time on Tuesday, with the community encouraged to follow updates on The Junee Bulletin throughout the day.

For Sam, Junee won’t simply be another stop along the route, it will be home.

She’ll return to the community that helped shape her before setting off to tackle the second half of her remarkable journey.

After spending Tuesday night in town, Sam will resume her journey early Wednesday morning, with locals again invited to show their support.

Community members are encouraged to gather at the Junee Recreation Centre from 6.30am, where bacon and egg rolls will be available before a community run and walk departs at 7am.

Participants will accompany Sam along the two-kilometre route to the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory before she pushes on towards Cootamundra.

Organisers are encouraging as many locals as possible to come along and show their support, hoping to give Sam a hometown welcome she’ll never forget before she tackles the final 200-odd kilometres to Yass.