TOP SIRE 2026–2027 BEYOND THE FARM RESILIENCE IN EVERY STITCH HOW SAM LONGMORE FOUND COMMUNITY AND HEALING THROUGH FIBRE Sam Longmore’s story is one of immense resilience and a deep love of natural fibres, infused with a strong a sense of community. At the age of 22, Sam’s life took a dramatic turn when a series of unfortunate events led to two car accidents on the same night, leaving her paralysed down the right side of her body. With a long road of recovery ahead of her, Sam attempted to take up knitting but found that conventional methods were lost on her. With her never-give-up attitude, Sam created her own technique, creating bulky Merino wool blankets and chunky knit beanies. “I use one bit of dowel then I use my right hand, that I can’t use, as another bit of dowel. I knit onto my arm and knit onto the stick” she explained. “It’s a mindful activity with that feeling of a natural fibre in your hand.” In her childhood, Sam lived on a cropping and sheep enterprise at Galong with her dad where she fell in love with the Merino. She treasures those childhood experiences, recalling her first job of lamb marking. “I loved being in that space and that grew during my high school years.” After her accident, Sam was desperate to get back to agriculture. “I didn’t know what that was going to look like physically – I knew it had to be on the creative side.” Sam created her business Ohhbulldust, which she said started as a “selfish thing”, selling knitted goods and lanolin lip balms at weekend markets. “I was getting annoyed at answering the same questions over again,” she said. “I was trying to teach people the value of wool and wool products, but people kept asking how they could make the blankets and things.” This frustration led Sam to create knitting workshops, where she could share her journey, her love of natural fibres and her craft with a group of people. In the community hall at Binalong ten years ago, Sam held her first workshop. “I’d never taught anyone how to make anything in my whole life,” she laughed. “It was really about connecting with others myself and then others connecting too.” Embraced by the small communities she visited, Sam said she felt a sense of belonging. “It was a bit about education, about wool and what else you can do with it. Showing people that sheep have so much purpose.” It was a space and platform for Sam, as much as it was for others. “It was my way to be connected and physically back in that country space.” Photo captions. 1– Sam Longmore during one of her Knitting with Resilience workshops. 2– Sam with some of her workshop participants and their fabulous blankets. 3– Sam and her partner Jude Bannister. (Photos: Supplied) 1– 2– – 28 –
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