This summer, a fleet of rugged four-wheel drives is carving paths into some of Australia's most isolated farming regions, carrying vital support for those on the land. The vehicles, nine INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster utes, are provided through a key sponsorship and are being used by counsellors from the national charity Rural Aid.
Vehicles as a Beacon of Support
For counsellors like Roger Hitchcock, a Western Australian local and community representative for Rural Aid, the capable 4x4s are far more than just transport. They serve as both a reliable tool for accessing disaster-affected areas and an unexpected conversation starter. "They are a beacon," Hitchcock explains. "As a counsellor they are an amazing icebreaker, as the farmers are very interested in them. They are very curious about them."
He recalls a specific instance in Denmark, Western Australia, where the terrain was severely churned up. "These vehicles are going to get there. No problem at all," he states, praising their strength and capability. The sponsorship from INEOS is described as "absolutely amazing" and fundamental to their outreach work in remote locations.
The Crucial Work of Rural Aid Counsellors
Rural Aid, established in 2015, exists to safeguard farming and rural communities before, during, and after natural disasters. A significant part of their mission involves providing free, confidential counselling services. Hitchcock clarifies that this support covers a wide range of personal challenges farmers might face.
"The counselling is anything that they feel that they need to talk about — relationships, succession planning, it could be anxiety, depression, anything," he says. The approach is not about "fixing" people but about walking alongside them. "It takes enormous strength to ask for help. It takes enormous strength to make yourself vulnerable," Hitchcock emphasises, framing the act of reaching out as a sign of courage.
Built for Purpose: The INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster
The vehicle at the heart of this initiative was born from a desire to fill a gap in the market for a utilitarian off-roader. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of the INEOS chemical company, conceived the idea after lamenting the discontinuation of the old Land Rover Defender.
The Grenadier, named for the London pub where the plan was hatched, was designed with a clear, functional brief. Toby Ecuyer, Head of Design, notes the goal was a "modern, functional and highly capable 4x4 vehicle with utility at its core."
The Quartermaster dual-cab ute used by Rural Aid is a substantial machine. Key specifications include:
- A 3.5-tonne towing capacity and 2000 litres of load space.
- Permanent four-wheel-drive with a Tremec transfer case and solid beam axles.
- A choice of a 3.0-litre BMW straight-six turbo petrol (286PS/450Nm) or twin-turbo diesel (249PS/550Nm) engine.
- An eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
- A full box-section ladder-frame chassis with a 12-year anti-perforation warranty.
Priced from $107,000, the Grenadier is engineered as a "proper four-wheel drive," aimed squarely at demanding work and remote travel. For Rural Aid's team, this translates directly into an ability to reach farmers who need support, no matter how rough the track or how distant the property, proving that sometimes the right tool can open more than just a physical path.
