Carers in rural Australia are more likely to suffer long-term health problems than those in major cities, with long work days, limited services and financial strain compounding the pressures of the role.

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ABC COUNTRY HOUR PRESENTER ANNABELLE HOMER: We’ll hear more about the racing Yabbies in Broken Hill later in the program. You are listening to the Country Hour, it is 11 minutes past 12, Annabelle Homer with you this afternoon.

While carers to an amazing job looking after those who are physical or mentally ill, and often put their own lives on hold to do so, it’s often the carers themselves who end up falling ill.

The demands of the job are often underestimated, and research on behalf of the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows that their situation is particularly tough in remote areas. More carers in rural Australia suffer from long-term health problems than those in major cities.

For Carers Week, Broken Hill has been running several events, and today our reporter Nicky Redl has gone to one of those events to catch up with those at the coalface. Hi, Nicky, where are you?

NICKY REDL: Hey, Annabelle. Look, I’m at the town square here, the Broken Hill town square. It’s quite a big event. There are a lot of people here and quite a few stands informing people, and trying to raise awareness, really, of how carers in the regional areas of Australia have to cope, and trying to get them a bit more support.

Now, I’ve got Kerry Landstrom here with me. She’s been a carer for 23 years, and in that time looked after three generations – her grandmother, her sister, and her nephew – is that right, Kerry?

KERRY LANDSTROM: That’s right, Nicky.

NICKY REDL: Tell me, how easy is it for you to get away and take a very well-deserved break?

KERRY LANDSTROM: It’s very hard. I’ve had one week about a year ago, and usually four or five days a year… (continues)

Training for an Ironman triathlon in the searing heat of the Australian Outback, a Broken Hill police officer is preparing to tackle one of the world’s toughest endurance events.

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NEROLI ROOKE: Long-distance races are grueling enough in mild temperatures, but think of how tough it would be to do all your training in the Australian Outback. It’s dusty, dry, and temperatures regularly top 40 C in summer – not to forget the snakes.

Broken Hill policeman Wayne Demrey is training for an upcoming Ironman event – 3.86 kilometers of swimming, followed by a 180-kilometer bike ride and then a marathon to top it off.

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NICKY REDL: You’d think that if you lived and worked in the hot Outback, you’d take up a cool sport. Swimming, perhaps, to stay out of the sun. But not so Wayne Demrey, who lives and works in the mining town of Broken Hill, in the far west of New South Wales. When he is not working the beat as a policeman, you’ll find him training hard for marathons, triathlons, and even gruelling Ironman events.

And without any training squads around, he has to do most of the training on his own. So, how does he stay motivated? Hello, I’m Nicky Redl, and Wayne has just come in from a training session, getting ready for Ironman Western Australia, and even which involves swimming, cycling, and running.

WAYNE DEMREY: It starts off with a 3.86-kilometer swim. You have about 1,500 people who start swimming together at the same time. So, it’s just like someone is starting an outboard motor in front of your face. You just get bashed, and kicked, and hit. There are no friends in an Ironman swim. You get off that, and you go on a 180-kilometer bikeride, and then you finish off with a 42.2-kilometer marathon run… (continues)

Broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Rural Reporter in 2009.