Royal Far West, an Australian national charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of rural and remote children, is celebrating 100 years of supporting country kids in December.
Since its inception, Royal Far West has gone where the gaps are to provide country children with the health services they need most.
Today, it is estimated there are 190,000 children across rural and remote Australia who need developmental and mental health support to help them get on track and stay on track.
Royal Far West plays a vital role in helping these children access essential assessment and therapy services, who would otherwise face long waiting times amid a shortage of rural healthcare professionals.
Exactly 100 years ago, Royal Far West, initially known as the Far West Children’s Scheme, was first established when Reverend Stanley Drummond, a Cobar-based Minister, was recuperating on Manly Beach.
He had a vision of bringing country kids to the beach for respite, which quickly became a reality with camps for country children.
During one of the camps, Dr George Moncreiff Barron offered free medical support for the children.
This marked the evolution of the holiday camps into the healthcare services that remain foundational to Royal Far West today.
Royal Far West has grown into a specialist child development service that today provides developmental, mental health and disability support for children aged up to 12 and those around the child – parents, carers, educators and health professionals.
Its innovative services support country children across four states (NSW, QLD, WA and VIC), 364 communities and 211 schools and early childhood centres from its Centre for Country Kids in Manly, via virtual care or on in-community visits by a multidisciplinary team of paediatric clinicians.
Royal Far West’s chief executive officer Jacqueline Emery said Royal Far West has always been a beacon of hope in the bush.
“We go where the gaps are to ensure that every child has access to high-quality healthcare and support, regardless of where they live,” she said.
“From our humble beginnings, we’ve transformed into a specialist child development service, utilising innovative services and technology, to bridge the gap and bring essential health services to children in remote areas.”
NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said for 100 years, Royal Far West has been a pillar of support for the health and wellbeing of children and families in regional communities.
“Their unwavering commitment and impact are nothing short of extraordinary,” he said.
“Reaching this milestone is a remarkable achievement, and I offer my sincere congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey.”
Key achievements over the past 100 years include:
Running 50 years of Manly-based seaside camps to provide much-needed respite for country kids.
Children were nominated by local doctors, teachers, nurses, clergy and police to come to the beach for respite.
Recruited ‘the Angel of the Outback’, Nancy Bird Walton AO, OBE, to fly Royal Far West’s clinic sisters to more remote outstations in 1935.
Responded to the polio epidemic and set up a polio hospital in Manly in 1945 to support affected children,
Pioneered a thriving and award-winning telehealth service in 2013 to offer speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology services via technology to country children’s homes and schools, enabling RFW to scale from NSW only to four states.
Winning Australia Charity Outstanding Achievement Award for the Telecare for Kids program in 2018.
Continued an impressive 80 per cent of their services during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and converted their guesthouse for visiting children and families “Drummond House” to a safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Partnered with UNICEF Australia and responded to the rise in natural disasters by setting up the Community Recovery Service to support children, families and communities and improve their resilience and wellbeing in the long-term aftermath of the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and then floods.
This has since evolved into the Schools and Early Years Services.
This award-winning service won the ‘Suncorp Resilient Australia’ and ‘National Community Awards’ in 2021.
Advocated to government and policymakers, giving voice to the needs of country children and communities over its 100-year history.
To mark this historic milestone, Royal Far West is celebrating with several momentous events and fundraisers throughout 2025.
Emery continued, “We are deeply grateful to our supporters, partners and community members who have been part of this journey.
“Together, we will continue to deliver crucial services to ensure that every child has access to the health care they need, regardless of where they live.
“Supporting Royal Far West’s mission means investing in the future of country children, helping them reach their full potential and breaking the cycle of disadvantage.”
