Sam Longmore and Nedd Brockmann bring community to life on Mount Panorama

The CommBank Tour’s stop in Bathurst brought together two powerful voices in resilience and community - Sam Longmore, a disability advocate and world champion adaptive waterskier, and Nedd Brockmann, 2026 Young Australian of the Year. But it was Longmore’s achievement on Mount Panorama that captured the spirit of the day.

Completing a lap of the iconic track in a wheelchair as part of the CommBank Tour Run Club with Brockmann, Longmore’s moment was more than physical. It reflected years of determination, mindset and a deep connection to regional communities.

The pair’s connection began online, when Brockmann came across Longmore’s story and was struck by her drive to help others.

“I was on social media, and I saw a video pop up of the incredible Sammy,” Brockmann says. 

“This happens quite often, but for me you could see the genuine nature to do good. It cut through very much so.”

“So, when everyone was tagging me in the comments, I was like, oh, I've got to get around this incredible human. That's how we’re here connected.”  

Longmore had followed Brockmann’s work for years before they met.

“I've been a huge fan of Nedd for a while. I just thought he’s a country kid, I’m a country kid, and I could make a new mate out of this too,” Longmore says.   

A night that changed everything

Longmore has spent more than a decade rebuilding after a life-changing night which saw her involved in two accidents. In October 2013, a then 22-year-old Longmore was called to work a night shift in Canberra after being her friend’s designated driver at a country race day north-west of the capital. 

She fell asleep at the wheel, hit a guard rail and veered across the highway before rolling into a high fence. On the way to hospital, her ambulance crashed too. 

After the accidents, Longmore was diagnosed with right side hemiplegia, meaning she’s paralysed from her neck to her toes on her right-hand side. 

Mount Panorama just the start 

Conquering Mount Panorama is part of her preparation for what’s next. In June 2026, Sam will undertake The Big Wheel, a 400km wheelchair trek over eight days from Corowa to Yass, raising funds for rural mental health.  

“I’ve always followed this mantra: you’ve got to do it for you because no one else will. With the support of many other people but also the support of my own mind I’ve been able to get where I am today,” Longmore says. 

“I want to help other people navigate the good circumstances, like I’ve been able to.” 

Her participation in the Mount Panorama challenge highlights how community-led initiatives, like the CommBank Tour Run Club with Brockmann, are creating space for inclusion and shared achievement in regional areas.

Longmore states regional towns like Bathurst can feel like lonely environments, which is why community events are key. 

“Being able to come together as a community, as a group and find that sense of belonging, like-minds and being able to conquer Panorama and feel that sense of accomplishment at the end of the day is quite a nice thing to do.” 

Taking a resilient perspective

Both Longmore and Brockmann share a similar outlook on resilience, one that centres on choice and perspective.

“We have the exact same synergy, every day above ground is a good day in my opinion," Brockmann says. 

For CommBank, the Bathurst stop on the CommBank Tour reflects a broader focus on supporting regional Australians, creating opportunities for connection, visibility and shared experiences. 

“And something community does, is there's so many powers and strengths that everyone has together when united,” Brockmann says. 

“So, coming down here and seeing the support, I feel very grateful. I never thought I would have this sort of support when I first took on this journey.” 

For Longmore, completing Mount Panorama was not just a personal milestone - it was a reminder of what can happen when communities come together with purpose.

The CommBank Tour is a national initiative designed to enhance financial fitness in regional Australia and bring communities together. Visit  The CommBank Tour  to learn more.