Footy, fundraising and a powerful show of rural resilience at Adelaide Oval
More than 3,000 farmers and their families gathered at Adelaide Oval last month – not just to watch the Crows take on the Suns, but to take a breather, connect, and highlight the pressures drought-affected communities are facing.
Thanks to an extraordinary collective effort, $115,000 has now been raised for the Rural Business Support Relief Fund, which will go directly toward assisting drought‑impacted farmers across the state.
Grain Producers SA (GPSA) Chair John Gladigau thanked the State Government, Adelaide Crows and Foodland for bringing GPSA’s vision to life.
“More than 3,000 farmers impacted by drought in grain, livestock and dairy were given free tickets to attend the Drought Support Match with their family and friends,” he said.
“Not only did we increase awareness about the drought to metropolitan audiences, $115,000 was raised during the match for Rural Business Support’s Relief Fund to assist impacted farmers.
“It’s not just about the financial support – this was an opportunity for families to take a breather from the demands of the farm and help others understand the reality of what they’re facing.”
Mr Gladigau praised the Adelaide Football Club for its warm, down‑to‑earth hospitality.
“The Crows players and staff, and everyone at the footy club, went above and beyond to make the day special, and their passion for regional South Australia and helping farmers in drought is clear.”
GPSA was proud to lead the initiative alongside Primary Producers SA, Livestock SA, and the SA Dairyfarmers’ Association, united in support of South Australian agriculture.
Mr Gladigau also paid tribute to Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven for backing the initiative and bringing GPSA’s concept to fruition.
“While the match may be over, our advocacy continues. We’ll keep pushing for practical, immediate support for farming families – including finance access, concessional loans and on-farm relief measures,” Mr Gladigau said.
In addition to being a standout day for rural support, it was a dominant performance on the field too with the Adelaide Crows taking down the Suns by a whopping 61 points, capping off the event with a footy win that matched its spirit.
