Meet the Founder: Kate of Little Oak Farm Animal Sanctuary

I am beyond excited to introduce you to Kate Luke, a beautiful human and the incredible founder of Little Oak Sanctuary - a haven for rescued farmed animals and a place near and dear to my heart.

Kate’s journey is truly inspiring, rooted in kindness and a mission to change the way we see animals often overlooked by society. Through love, education, and care, Kate’s creating a safe space where animals in need can live their best lives free from abuse, suffering and neglect.

Please join me in welcoming Kate and enjoy learning more about her heart-driven work at Little Oak Sanctuary!

W&CF: Thank you so much for catching up with me Kate. Let’s go back to the beginning. As a qualified photographer with a background in accounts and management, starting an animal sanctuary sounds like the last thing you thought you would be doing. What inspired you to start Little Oak Sanctuary and how did your journey into animal rescue begin? Has this always been a dream for you?

Kate: Even though I’ve always loved animals, I never expected to run a sanctuary. The idea of creating Little Oak Sanctuary came from a few life-changing experiences. My partner and I had moved from suburban Canberra to a small rural property, and around that time, we watched an exposé called A Bloody Business on ABC’s Four Corners, which uncovered the brutal realities of the live export industry. This led us to go vegan, and with the extra space, we began taking in animals in need.

We started with chickens and roosters, then two tiny piglets came into our lives. These piglets quickly stole our hearts and opened our eyes to just how amazing pigs are. Tragically, one of them, Little Timmy, passed away suddenly after struggling with an illness. Losing him was devastating—not only because he was our dear friend, but because his incredible personality was known only to us. We founded Little Oak Sanctuary in Timmy’s memory, with the mission to share the unique stories of farmed animals and show them as the individuals they are.

W&CF: I have visited the sanctuary a couple of times now and it truly is heaven on earth for these beautiful animals. For anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to visit Little Oak, can you share more about the sanctuary set up and how many residents you currently have?

Kate: We started Little Oak Sanctuary in 2013 on a small property, but it quickly became clear we needed more space. In 2015, we moved to a beautiful 273-acre property with open grazing land surrounded by bushland. While there was some existing infrastructure, most of what visitors see today—like the stables, paddock shelters, fencing, water tanks, and poultry yards—has been built since we arrived.

We currently care for 303 animals, many of whom are now elderly. As we’ve been operating for over a decade, those we rescued early on are now in their twilight years. It’s a peaceful, natural environment where these beautiful animals can live safely, surrounded by care and compassion.

 

W&CF: Running a sanctuary is no easy feat and I can only imagine how different each day is. Can you please give us an inside into a typical day in the life at Little Oak Sanctuary?

Kate: Each day at Little Oak is unique, shaped by the animals’ needs. Here’s a look at what a typical day involves:

We start early, helping our live-in volunteers with the morning feed run. We move animals from their night stables to day yards, medicate those who need it, and monitor everyone for signs of illness, updating care plans as needed.

After breakfast, we split up. My mornings often involve admin tasks—reconciling accounts, working on grant applications, updating our websites, planning social media, and coordinating events. Meanwhile, our volunteers clean the stables and day yards, replacing bedding, collecting manure, and ensuring everything stays tidy. Once that’s done, they join James for work like fencing repairs, shelter maintenance, or moving water for the pig wallows.

Once a week, I head into Canberra to collect our vegetable order and bread from a local bakery, then pick up the weekly feed order, which costs around $500–$600 each week for the pigs, poultry, horses, sheep, and calves.

In the afternoon, it’s feeding time again for all the animals, which gives us a chance to check on everyone’s health and condition. Then it’s back to admin work for me, especially if we’ve had vet visits or emergencies that day. As evening comes, our volunteers lock up the poultry, and we call it a day—ready to do it all over again the next morning!

W&CF: All your residents are so beautiful, each with a unique personality and story. Can you share a story about one of the animals that deeply touched your heart and embodied the mission of the sanctuary?

Kate: One story that always comes to mind is that of Timmy, one of our very first rescues and the inspiration behind the name Little Oak Sanctuary. Timmy was a piglet, spared from slaughter as the "runt" of his litter at an intensive pig farm. He was fragile and sickly, but with love and care, he blossomed into a cheeky and determined little guy. Sadly, Timmy's life was short, but he left a huge mark on our hearts. We planted a small oak tree over his resting place, and it symbolises his spirit and the sanctuary's mission—to plant seeds of compassion and show the world that farmed animals like Timmy are individuals with lives worth living. Every animal we rescue has their own story and personality, and like Timmy, they teach us that they deserve more than how they are treated in the world today.

 

W&CF: Running a sanctuary isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and sadly there aren’t always happy endings. How do you balance the emotional toll of working with rescued animals with the joy they bring into your life?

Kate: It's definitely a challenge. Losing residents, especially those who have faced challenges that we've fought very hard to save, is incredibly painful. And with an ageing population of animals in care, we're experiencing loss more and more. But the moments of joy and connection with the animals make it all worthwhile. Seeing a frightened animal grow to trust us, witnessing their first steps of freedom, or watching them play in the sunshine—those moments are like little sparks that keep us going. We try to focus on the impact we're making for each animal we care for, even if we can't change the world for all of them. And our community, volunteers, and supporters remind us that we're not alone in this—there's strength in knowing that together, we're creating a kinder world.

W&CF: Sadly there is still a big disconnect about animals being friends versus food. What do you find to be the biggest misconception about farmed animals and how do you address this in your community outreach and education programs?

Kate: One of the biggest misconceptions is that farmed animals are somehow different from the animals we consider pets, like dogs and cats. People often think of them as less intelligent or incapable of forming bonds. But when you meet a calf like Iris, who runs around doing zoomies and loves scratches under her chin, or Willow the pig who rolls over for belly rubs, you see just how untrue that is. Farmed animals treated with love and respect interact with humans in a much different way to those used in animal agriculture, and we see that they have the same capacity to love and form bonds with people as the dogs and cats we treasure. Through our community outreach and programs like The Compassionate Classroom, we focus on sharing these stories and allowing people to see animals as individuals. When people hear about the personalities and quirks of our residents, it helps them connect with the idea that these animals are friends, not food.

W&CF: Your education program, The Compassionate Classroom, teaches children about farmed animals and how to take action to create a better world. What role does education play in your mission, and how do you engage the public in understanding the importance of animal sanctuaries?

Kate: Education is at the heart of our mission. It's through understanding that people develop empathy and compassion. The Compassionate Classroom engages children in a way that's age-appropriate, highlighting animals as individuals with their own lives and needs. By starting these conversations early, we're planting seeds of empathy that can grow into lifelong compassion. We also engage with the wider public through tours, events, and online content, aiming to create awareness of the vital role sanctuaries play in protecting animals and advocating for a kinder world.

 

W&CF: After getting only a small glimpse into sanctuary life I can only imagine how challenging it can be. What are some of the biggest challenges you face running the sanctuary, both logistically and emotionally?

Kate: Logistically, one of the biggest challenges is managing the day-to-day care of over 300 animals with limited resources. Each one has their own needs, and ensuring they all receive the right care, from feed to medical treatment, is a huge task. Financially, the cost of feed, veterinary care, and shelter maintenance is always a concern, and fundraising is a constant part of what we do. Emotionally, it's the losses that weigh heavily. We get so attached to each animal, and saying goodbye, especially when they have fought so hard, is heartbreaking. But we try to hold onto the wins, no matter how small, and remind ourselves of the 300 animals who have the chance to live life on their terms, thanks to our work.

W&CF: You are so active in the community, particularly in Canberra, holding regular events and markets. How has the presence of the sanctuary affected the local community and what reactions or changes have you observed over time?

Kate: It's been amazing to see how much the local community has embraced our work. Over time, we've seen a real shift in awareness and interest around the issues farmed animals face. People who might have come to one of our markets out of curiosity end up becoming passionate supporters, attending our events year after year, and even bringing their kids to learn more about compassion. We've also seen more people choosing to reduce their consumption of animal products after visiting the sanctuary and meeting the animals. It's a reminder that sharing stories and creating connections can plant seeds of change, and we're proud to be part of that journey with the community.

 

W&CF: Your annual GALA Celebration is fast approaching which has been a huge success in previous years. Can you share more about the intention behind the GALA and what can attendees expect this year?

Kate: The Gala Celebration is about coming together to reflect on the incredible work we've done as a community. It's a night to celebrate our wins, raise essential funds for our Urgent Care Appeal, and remind ourselves why compassion matters. This year, attendees can expect live music, incredible plant-based food and drinks, a silent auction, lucky door prizes, and entertainment from our MC, Marty Bright. It's going to be a fantastic evening of joy and connection, and we can't wait to share it with everyone.

W&CF: It takes a village to run a sanctuary. Beyond volunteering, if someone wants to get involved with Little Oak Sanctuary what are the most impactful ways they can support you?

Kate: There are so many ways to support our work beyond volunteering! Donations are always a huge help—they go directly to feeding and caring for our residents and covering veterinary costs. Sponsoring an animal is a wonderful way to support us while building a special connection with one of our residents. Attending our events, like our Gala or the Compassionate Stakes, helps raise funds and spreads the word about our mission. And even something as simple as sharing our posts on social media or talking about our work with friends and family helps to raise awareness and create a ripple effect of change.

 

W&CF: What is your vision for the future of Little Oak Sanctuary, and how do you see it growing and evolving over the next few years?

Kate: Our vision is to create a sanctuary that will continue to provide safe haven and advocacy long into the future, even beyond our time as founders. We're focusing on sustainability—both in terms of our operations and the way we share our message. We hope to expand our education programs and reach even more schools with The Compassionate Classroom. We also want to continue growing our events to engage more people and give them a taste of what a kinder world can look like. Ultimately, we hope that through our work, we can inspire more people to see farmed animals for who they are—individuals with their own lives, deserving of respect and compassion.

FAST FIVE

1. Favourite place in the world… (Home) but aside from that, the South Island of NZ

2. The beauty product you can't live without… Sunscreen

3. Song that lives rent free in your head… How Soon is Now (The Smiths)

4. A life changing event or experience… adopting two little piglets

5. Who or what inspires you the most in life? I'm inspired by our volunteers, who give up their time to come and help animals each week.
   
   

W&CF: Thanks so much for chatting to me Kate, I have loved learning more about Little Oak Sanctuary and your mission to create a world where there is kindness and compassion for all animals.