In the following weeks, 24 towns in Central West NSW will have the chance to Claude "the Mowerman" Harvey in action raising funds for the charity organisation Bravehearts.  

Bravehearts is a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse.  

Donations go to counselling for child sexual abuse survivors along with running the educational program Ditto's Adventure run by Bravehearts.  

The program educates children in early learning centres and lower primary schools about personal safety skills through age-appropriate language, song, and dance.   

"Education is very important because there are many kids who are sexually abused in this country," Claude told the Western Plains.   

As a Queensland native, Claude is visiting many towns in the Central West for the first time at 78 years old, "I'm very excited."   

He started off his journey on 27 April in Roma and will be ending it on 28 May in Wentworth. Some of the other towns he will be visiting include Lighting Ridge (29 April), Walgett (30 April), Coonabarabran (13 May) and Gilgandra (15 May). A full itinerary of his travels can be seen below.   

For thirteen years Claude has been traveling across Australia with his lawnmower to raise awareness, bringing in up to $1.8 million for the cause. This year alone he has raised $35,000 for Bravehearts.  

"He's committed. He's passionate. Everyone in the area knows him. He's kind of a legend," member of the Bravehearts fundraising and community engagement team Lexis Ferguson-Maxwell said.   

 Claude Harvey accepting the Queensland Senior Australian of the Year Award in 2023

Claude's journey at Bravehearts began as a volunteer. Eventually, he started pushing his lawnmower across Australia to support the cause even driving his lawnmower across Sydney Harbour Bridge twice.   

The cause lies especially close to his heart after two loved ones told him about their own experience as child sexual abuse survivors.   

One of the things Claude said surprised him in his travels is the number of men, from all age groups, who come up to him and reveal they had been sexually abused.   

In 2023, Claude was named Queensland Senior Australian of the Year for his efforts in protecting children's rights.   

Onlookers can donate to Bravehearts by either putting money in the bucket Claude keeps on his lawnmower or through the Bravehearts website.