Travelling Jackaroo Sam Hughes drives tractor for charity, raises nearly $250k

The Travelling Jackaroo has set up camp in the Top End. Read why he’s on the road, and where he’s headed next.

“What the heck’s that?”

Travelling Jackaroo Sam Hughes said the bizarre appearance of his sticker-laden, orange 1960s Chamberlain tractor was the perfect conversation starter.

And after three years on the road, those conversations have helped the 20-year-old raise almost a quarter of a million dollars for his three favoured charities.

“It’s such a very, very isolated country we live in and the distances are extreme, and a lot of the times people not so much get forgotten about, but just missed,” Mr Hughes said.

“It’s the ones that get missed that are the ones we do miss, and unfortunately it’s a very prevalent thing in Australia and rural areas.”

Sam Hughes has raised almost a quarter of a million for his charities. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Each of his chosen charities target rural communities and local problems.

“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is obviously a massive one because they’re depended on in every state – even Tasmania for some reason, despite the fact that we pick up a rock and throw it to one side of the state,” Mr Hughes said.

“Dolly’s Dream, because bullying is just unacceptable. doesn’t matter what age you are but especially in kids, we don’t need that.”

He said his contributions to drought relief were “pretty self-explanatory”.

The Daly Waters Pub was the Jackaroo’s ‘favourite place in Australia’. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Going roughly 40km/hr, Mr Hughes has completed a lap of the country in his trusty tractor alongside dog Bitsa – who also answers to ‘Dickhead’.

Mr Hughes isn’t afraid to put his speed to the test and go head-to-head with fellow travellers.

“If you look on the nose of that plane … you’ll see that there’s a tally mark of the caravan,” Mr Hughes said.

“Now, on this trip … we’re doing 40 kilometres an hour, I’ve overtaken two grey nomads in caravans.

“I can assure you, (that) is probably the happiest moment of this entire trip.”

Travelling Jackaroo Sam Hughes has overtaken two grey nomads while travelling across the country in a tractor. Picture: Sierra Haigh

With just nine months left to go, Mr Hughes is already looking ahead to his next project.

A mobile museum – complete with the quirkiest NT News front pages – will bring the best of the bush to millions of Aussies.

Mr Hughes said his tractor – lovingly named Slim – will spend its retirement in stationary museums.

“I love my tractor very dearly, but for what I want to do – I’d like to tow a pretty decent sized trailer – I don’t think the tractor’s going to be suitable,” he said.