Our Champions

Lee Kernaghan is a renowned advocate for country NSW after spending his formative years growing up in the Riverina area of NSW and touring the country with his father – truck driver and multi-platinum recording artist Ray. A multi-award winning music artist, he was the 2008 Australian of the Year and is a great ambassador for the Australian country music industry and the bush. To many people Lee represents the very essence of the spirit and values of contemporary rural Australia with his extensive charity work.

Born without the lower part of his spine, Kurt Fearnley, OAM, was raised in the small town of Carcoar in a family of five children who loved sport. Kurt is no stranger to healthcare and understands just how important access to quality care is. As a young boy his parents instilled a strong sense of determination and courage in Kurt and he has gone on to become a leading Australian athlete.

For years Murray Hartin has been making audiences laugh, cry and visualise the spoken word with his unique style of Australian storytelling. A country journalist by trade, Murray grew up in the Northern NSW town of Moree and has held a strong connection with Royal Far West for several years. His poem Never Out of Reach was inspired by the dedication and hard work of those who founded and continue to realise the ideals of Royal Far West.

Jacqui Lachmann grew up in the northern NSW town of Old Bonalbo and quickly learnt a remote location should be no barrier to dreams or opportunity. With her sisters she trained tirelessly on her kayak in the family dam before moving to Sydney in 2002 to pursue her dream of Olympic glory. In 2008, Jacqui shot to prominence as she claimed the canoe/kayak slalom silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.

A prominent personality on Seven News, Sara Groen is a weather reporter and regular presenter for Seven Late News. Originally, a presenter and segment producer for children’s show Saturday Disney, she moved on to reporting roles on Sydney Weekender and Beyond Tomorrow before becoming the weather reporter for Seven News. One evening in February 2008 Sara broadcast the weather from Royal Far West at Manly surrounded by a sea of enthusiastic kids and after the cameras stopped rolling she took time to show the kids around the satellite truck and television equipment. She remained in contact with Royal Far West and she continues her support as one of our inaugural Champions for Country Kids.

Glenn Stewart is a professional rugby league footballer representing the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League competition and the Australian Kangaroos on the international stage. His numerous accolades include being the recipient of the prestigious Dally M Second Rower of the Year 2008, being named one of the top five players of the 2008 season by Big League magazine and Manly's Best and Fairest player. Glenn grew up in Berkeley, south of Wollongong, and is now a Manly local. He is a tireless worker for charity in the northern beaches area and is excited to be on board as a Royal Far West Champion for Country Kids.

Phil Waugh is an Australian Wallaby, member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup team, winner of the John Eales Medal for the Wallabies Best and Fairest Player and Waratahs captain. In addition to his sporting feats Phil has been a tireless supporter of Royal Far West, serving as a Royal Far West Ambassador since 2005.