A Big Country ABC listen

Community pitching in to plant barley crop to fund sports facilities upgrade; how revamping a tiny town's pub helped Cathy find a passion and purpose: farmers become retailers with 24-7, self-serve butcher shop; former sign writer growing wine grapes in an unlikely location.

Maureen recognised for helping refugees in her regional community; remote school keeping kids coming to class; giving old woollen clothes a new life as upcycled products; the animal sanctuary taking in abandoned maremmas.

Dutch woman's new outback droving life; making a career out of love of nature; new 'cushy' domestic life for wild horses and the rising stars of stock horse scene.

Performer credits country childhood for success that sees her supporting pop idol; winery pairing wines with insects for unique cellar door experience; volunteers uncovering local history in pioneer graveyard clean-up; farmer earning a following for goat meat salamis and smallgoods.

Timorese migrant workers go from abattoir kill floor to festival stage after striking up friendship with country musician; floodwaters in the north wash through channel country turning red dirt plains green; cool climate farmer growing juniper berries for local gin production; country's oldest running textile mill marking 150 years of operation.

Researchers study 'living fossil' mountain shrimp; cooler climate lures mainland winemaker to island state; strawberry growers retire after three decades of sweet success; female competitors giving men 'the shakes' in speed shear competition.