Eventide Sanctuary – A Second Chance for Animals

Across Australia and New Zealand, we meet people who give their time and heart to others — often without anyone noticing.
But sometimes, one story stands out.
A story that reminds us that healing isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes, it’s quiet — and it starts with a single act of kindness.

That story lives in Carlton River, Tasmania, where one man’s search for purpose 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 came home, the adjustment was harder than he expected.

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

So he made a bold choice. He packed up, bought an old Land Cruiser, and came to Australia — travelling remote tracks and red-dirt roads, taking on work wherever he could, and slowly rebuilding a rhythm to life.

It was on one of those journeys, at the very tip of Cape York, that he met Wally — a stray hunting dog, thin, limping, and scared.

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

He took Wally in. And in doing so, found something he didn’t realise he’d lost — purpose.

A Sanctuary Takes Shape

Wally became the start of something far bigger. Over time, more animals began to find Ian — dogs, cats, goats, horses, even kangaroos — each with a story of their own.

He called the property Eventide Sanctuary, a place named for the quiet that falls at the end of the day. A place where things — and beings — can heal.

But behind the peace is relentless 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.”

Still, every animal that finds its way to Eventide reminds him why he started.

“They give back more than you could ever imagine.”

One Car. Real Impact.

Through Cars for Good, easyauto123 donated a vehicle to help Ian with the daily work that keeps Eventide running — transporting feed, equipment, and rescued animals safely.

“It’s made a huge difference,” he says. “Having reliable transport means I can keep up with everything and get where I’m needed.”

For Ian, it’s more than just a car. It’s a way to keep his sanctuary alive — and to reach those who need help the most.

A Lasting Legacy

From one man and one rescue dog to a thriving sanctuary for over a hundred animals, Eventide is proof that compassion has a ripple effect.

It’s not just a refuge for animals. It’s where Ian himself found peace again — a reminder that sometimes, helping others is how we heal ourselves.

Cars for Good is about backing everyday heroes who make a difference in their communities.
Ian is one of them — a quiet force of kindness, keeping hope alive at the end of every day.