2020 - The year that was

2020 was a year like no other. What began as a celebration of our centenary, our Members, our people and purpose, quickly turned into a call to action.

A split landscape photograph of cars being attended to by NRMA on the roadside, half modern day in colour, half 1970s in black and white.

NRMA has always been there to help. On every journey and through global crises like the Spanish Flu, World War ll and the Great Depression – our 100 year chronology is filled with occasions where we got to do what we do best – help.

While 2020 threw many challenges at us, from bushfires and drought to COVID-19, we stayed true to who are and mobilised our people to help out in every way possible.

Join us in taking a look back on 2020, the year that was.

2019-20 bushfire season

The 2019–20 bushfire season was the worst New South Wales (NSW) has recorded. Higher than average temperatures and low moisture levels in bushfire fuels following several years of drought enabled devastating fires to burn across much of the state, with intense bushfire weather conditions continuing through most of the fire season.

Over the course of a few months, 26 lives were lost, 2,448 homes were destroyed and 5.5 million hectares (ha) of land was burnt. The impact on NSW communities, farmers, local businesses, wildlife and bushland was unprecedented.

During the bushfires, we supported the communities impacted by making vessels available if required, providing shelter in holiday parks for people seeking refuge and our roadside teams made water available to drivers in impacted regions.

Patrol officer John Pisani volunteers with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Accounts payable officer, Joanne Price of SIXT volunteers with the NSW SES

A fishing wharf in Eden, NSW clouded by bushfire smoke.

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Our Centenary and Bright Futures Event

Our centenary activities were wholly designed for road trips to help reinvigorate regional communities. Our goal was to spark a movement towards a sustainable future for all communities, by revitalising the Aussie road trip and stimulating regional tourism.

To celebrate our centenary with Members and the community, we had planned our Bright Futures tour to host six special events across NSW. However, based on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people, we were unable to go ahead with our Bright Futures tour as planned.

Although we had to cancel the remaining events, we were still able to hold Bright Futures Northern Rivers over the weekend of 29 February and 1 March. The weekend included performances from Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton, while kids were entertained by Bunny Racket, a range of arts and crafts, and the interactive floral field. Our collection of heritage vehicles made for a great photo opportunity, but perhaps the most popular attraction was Arlo the koala, who had people lined up to meet him.

Kids enjoy a series of activities in the floral field.

Arlo the koala.

Kasey Chambers headlined Saturday's music line up.

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COVID-19 and our people

The crisis faced by Australia and the world with the advent of COVID-19 is far from over, however Australia has managed to stay on top of outbreaks and we are all adjusting to a new normal in a post COVID-19 world.

During the peak of the crisis we issued a call to arms to all our staff and partners to help. In response, NRMA teamed up with Meals on Wheels NSW, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia - NSW Branch, and the Australian Red Cross, mobilising our people and our vehicles to lend support to those in need. We also repurposed our other assets – SIXT and NRMA Parks and Resorts – to provide transport and accommodation for essential workers to perform their critical roles during a challenging time.

Here's how we helped:

2,475 priority roadside assistance for emergency workers
13,702 free days of car hire for health care workers
8,803 nights of discounted accommodation for essential travellers
477 meals delivered across Sydney, Newcastle and Tamworth
335 pharmacy deliveries across Sydney

NRMA Patrol Officer delivering goods during the COVID-19 lockdown.

NRMA Patrol Officer delivering medicine in partnership with the Pharmacy Guild.

NRMA employee James Simmons picking up meals to deliver to the elderly and isolated.

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#WhyWeRoadTrip

Road trips are the link to our legacy in Motoring. We have always been about the freedom of the open road. And in light of bushfires, drought, reduced visitation and a lack of investment in regional Australia, NRMA recognises that road trips matter more now than ever.

To shed a light on the importance of road trips to regional communities, we invited our Members to submit their best road trip tales and their favourite Aussie top spot. What followed were many stories about journeys they have taken, spanning several decades and capturing all the things a road trip should.

In a time when international borders are closed, we can’t go as far as we could before, but that’s no reason for our Members to feel boxed in. So, we joined forces with Tourism Australia to promote our Holiday Here This Year campaign where we pulled together some of the best destinations and tips to help people plan their next big trip.

Our centenary has given us the opportunity to reflect on our journey. Though, with the new challenges that face us all, this has not only been for the purpose of celebration, but also to draw inspiration for the actions we’re taking now and those we’re planning for the future. In everything we do, we aim to give back, always adding more value to Membership and allowing our past to inform the bright future we’re building – so that together, we can continue to make history.

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