Community & Business
29 August, 2026
Royce Simmons starts Big Walk from Gilgandra
Royce Simmons starts 300 km walk from Gil to support late friend, John Farragher.
By Molly Shannon
Currently, Royce Simmons is embarking on his final 'Big Walk' raising awareness and funding for dementia research. The 2026 Big Walk is a 300km journey to Cowra, which began in Gilgandra on Monday, August 24, to honour his late friend John 'Pug' Farragher OAM.
Royce’s Big Walk has been running for four years, inspired by finding a cure into dementia after being diagnosed himself.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, dementia affected roughly 439,000 people living with dementia in 2025 and estimated that 459,000 people would be living with the degenerative disease in 2026.
Royce is known for his time playing for the Penrith Panthers where he played over 230 first-grade games with the team, as well as playing in 10 tests for Australia.
After being diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2021, Royce has spent his time raising awareness and funding to find a cure for dementia.
Royce’s Big Walk 2026 will be his last year walking for the cause.
With a team of three, including Royce, the group set off from Gilgandra to Balladooran on Monday, August 24 before making their way to Dubbo on Tuesday.
Before they set out, Royce and his team kicked off the 2026 event at Gilgandra Services Club on Saturday, August 22, where they raised money for the Gilgandra Junior Rugby League and Netball Club.
“We wanted to support the junior rugby league because we know how hard it is in a lot of towns to supply - and if some of that money goes to the netball, that'll be good,” said Royce. The night was a large success, with over 100 people attending to show their support.
Former NRL player, Noel Cleal and sports manager Steve Gillis also joined to speak on a panel with Royce.
An auction was held where specially signed guernseys were also sold.
Royce chose to begin this year's journey in Gilgandra as a thank you to the friendship that he and the late John Farragher shared.
“Me and Johnny were really good mates, I couldn't find a better friend than him,” Royce said.
“I never heard him whinge once and I've learned a lot from him in not whinging or whining, so that's why we came and started at Gil to walk.
“We're walking to raise money so we can pay for a research program which is worth $400,000,” he said.
“So far the day's [Monday, August 24] been going really well, it's good to have good people walking with you.
“We've had people stop and give us cakes and things and donations as well,” said Royce.
While the start to the walk was early, the day was beautiful and sunny making for perfect conditions to walk the 17km from Gilgandra to Balladoran.
While walking, generous passerbys would stop to contribute to the fundraiser, with one local, Megan O'Connor, donating $100 and a tray of freshly baked goods to the team.
Joining Royce in the morning was director for the West Fund Health Insurance Board, Graeme Osbourne. The board is a sponsor for Royce’s Big Walk, this was Graeme's second time walking along Royce for the fundraiser.
“Royce reached out with the sponsorship packages and we jumped on because we could see that there was a real benefit for our members with the research that he was putting the money towards, which is a big illness in Australia,” Graeme said.
“It's been good, especially walking on the back roads, you don't have to worry about the highways.
“We’ve had a couple of farmers coming over from the fences and having a chat, and it's a beautiful day, the breeze is nice,” he said.
Royce’s Big Walk will run for 12 days before concluding in Cowra, where Royce grew up. Each day, a new set of walkers will join in.
Royce’s vision for the foundation is clear, he wants to raise Australia’s awareness into one of the nation's deadliest diseases and hopefully find a cure along the way.
Talking on how the walk went, Royce was happy to have such great support and a sunny day.
“We want to pay for a research program but on top of that, it's about the awareness of dementia,” said Royce.
“It's the biggest killer of people in the world for both men and women, it was the biggest killer of women for a long time and now it's the biggest killer of everyone.
“A lot of people think dementia was just for old people, but that's not the case anymore,” he said.
“Younger people are getting dementia, people as young as 30 or 40 are getting dementia now,” said Royce.
