Single farmers in Western Australia ditch dating apps for something face to face
Dozens of rural singles try speed dating to find a partner. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Andrew Chounding)
In short:
Young farmers are driving hundreds of kilometres for first dates.
Proximity, schedules and being related to most locals are the hurdles they need to overcome.
What's next?
Dating apps are redundant for most rural singles, so this speed dating event is hoping to fix the problem.
If dating apps do not work due to your geography, and most of your small town are relatives, how do you meet a partner?
A speed dating event at the Perth Royal Show hoped to curb the issues faced by rural singles across WA.
Tyranny of distance
Jake Davies is a mixed cropping and cattle farmer from York, 100km east of Perth.
"I have one app that's really good for people who live rurally. I set it to max, which is as far as WA goes," Mr Davies said.
Other dating apps have a shorter maximum radius.
"I think more events like this would be great," he said.
Mr Davies's longest journey for a date was to South Australia, during a long-distance relationship.
Jake Davies lives in York as a mixed cattle and cropping farmer. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Andrew Chounding)
Sarah Dring is a farmer from Warradarge, 244km north of Perth.
"I think you have to be open to [long distance] as a farmer, because the reality is, a suitable match is probably not around the corner. If there was, you would've found them," Ms Dring said.
"I drove 5 hours for a date … There is no real dating for me, where I am from."
Sarah Dring is a farmer from Warradarge trying to find love. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Andrew Chounding)
Tiffany Davey is a farmer in Konnongorring, 164km north-east of Perth, and hosted the event.
Ms Davey was inspired by a similar event in Katherine, dating proving to be a struggle for young rural singles across Australia.
"I love, love, I love helping people find love. It's something I truly believe is really important for a strong regional Australia," Ms Davey said.
"You don't want to necessarily date somebody you already know. And it's a bit weird going out with someone from your home town," said Ms Davey.
Though Ms Davey is happily coupled now, she understands the tyranny of distance.
The relationship began while she and her partner were in different states.
"I knew him for many years, I was actually moving to the Northern Territory," she said.
"I left and a few days later he drove across the territory, showed up and said 'let's give it a shot!'"
Tiffany Davey is no stranger to distance in rural relationships. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Andrew Chounding)
Shrinking populations
Further south, in Pemberton, Alex Cabassi relies on his local pub and footy club to try and meet a partner, but there is another obstacle getting in the way.
Mr Cabassi said being related to many people at the pub was a common problem: "Yeah, that happens. A lot.
"These events are so much better than dating apps. I try to stay off my phone," Mr Cabassi said.
Alex Cabassi is from a cattle farm in Pemberton. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Andrew Chounding)
Solutions for singles
Dr Scott Devenport is an associate lecturer at Curtin University, researching dating and romance.
He said dating apps did not offer a complete solution to the dating dilemma, and the main issue in modern dating was meeting people face to face.
These issues are exacerbated by living regionally.
"People frequently say that relationships take work, that work actually starts before the relationship,"Dr Devenport said.
Rural singles are required to put in the effort to maintain a relationship as well as travel, and compromise aspects of their own life based on location.
Dr Devenport said local programs such as social sports and singles nights were helping solve the face-to-face dating equation.
Host Tiffany Davey said the event was a success: "I know for a fact there's a date organised for tomorrow night."