Eventide Sanctuary – Where Healing Finds a Home

Across the country, countless people quietly change lives - giving their time, energy, and heart to others without ever asking for recognition. Every now and then, a story emerges that makes us pause; a reminder that healing doesn’t always arrive with fanfare or applause. Sometimes it’s silent, slow, and begins with one small act of kindness.

That story lives on a patch of land in Carlton River, Tasmania, where one man’s search for meaning became a sanctuary for animals - and for himself.

Meet Ian

Ian spent his twenties serving in the British Army, including time in Afghanistan. When he returned home, civilian life felt foreign. The routine, the camaraderie, the sense of direction... all gone.

“The structure and purpose were gone,” he says. “Trying to settle back down was quite a shock.”

So he did something few would dare: he packed up, bought an old Land Cruiser, and set out across Australia.

Through deserts and rainforests, along red-dirt tracks and remote coastlines, he worked odd jobs and found solace in movement. With every kilometre, he began piecing together a new rhythm to life.

It was at the very tip of Cape York that his journey took an unexpected turn. There, on a dusty road, he found Wally - a stray hunting dog, thin, limping, and terrified of everything.

“I think I saw a bit of myself in him,” Ian says.

He took Wally in, and in caring for that one frightened dog, Ian rediscovered something he hadn’t felt in years: purpose.

A Sanctuary Takes Shape

After some time on the road, Ian and Wally found their way to a quiet patch of land in Carlton River, Tasmania. What was meant to be a short stop soon became home. The stillness, the space, and the rhythm of caring for animals brought a sense of peace Ian hadn’t felt in years.

It started with one rescue, then another. Before long, more animals began to arrive: highland cows, alpacas, sheep, goats and chickens, each carrying its own story of struggle and survival.

Ian named it Eventide Sanctuary after his grandparents’ old cottage - the place where his earliest memories of care were formed. Here, animals roam freely and live as they were meant to be: safe, unhurried and unafraid.

He left his job and devoted himself to caring for them full-time. What began with one dog has grown into a haven for more than 250 rescued animals, built on patience, empathy and the belief that every creature deserves a second chance.

But behind the calm of Eventide lies constant work.

“The huge struggle for me is having the time to maintain the property, the equipment, the machinery,” Ian says. “Then there’s feeding and care. It can really take its toll.”

One Car. Real Impact.

Through Cars for Good, easyauto123 donated a 2016 Volkswagen Amarok to help Ian keep Eventide running - transporting feed, equipment, and rescued animals safely across the property and beyond.

The new vehicle has already made a huge difference. With reliable transport, Ian can now manage the demanding daily work of caring for the animals, maintaining the sanctuary, and responding quickly when an animal needs help.

A Lasting Legacy

From one man and one rescue dog to a thriving sanctuary for more than 250 rescued animals, Eventide is proof that compassion multiplies. What began as an act of rescue became a circle of healing for the animals - and for Ian himself.

Cars for Good exists to support everyday heroes who make a difference in their communities. Ian is one of them: a quiet force of kindness, keeping hope alive long after the sun goes down.

Get Involved

To learn more about Ian’s work, visit eventidesanctuary.com.au. You can book a tour, make a donation, or read the stories of the animals who now call Eventide home - each one a small miracle made possible by kindness.

Follow Eventide Sanctuary on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.