FROM his grassroots on a property at Swanfels to the winner of a worldwide competition, Tyson Mayr is living a life many can only dream about.

Tyson, who is now living in California, was the winner of a "vacation matchmaking" website Jauntaroo's Chief World Explorer Competition.

What are your connections to Warwick?

I was raised on a farm in Swanfels. I went to Yangan school with my four brothers and sisters and graduated Assumption College (also attended WSHS for a brief period of time).

What has been the most rewarding part of your work?

Seeing how much of a difference you can make to someone's life with little to no effort. The water filters I install take literally two minutes to install. They take up no room in my bag and they provide clean safe drinking water for years and years to come. You can pour brown, bacteria-filled water (which is what these children are drinking) through it and it comes out crystal clear and ready to drink.

Some 4500 children under the age of five die every single day from waterborne diseases. For the cost of a $50 filter and two minutes of my time, I can help provide clean water to thousands of children at a time.

What has been the hardest thing about your work?

I think the hardest part is actually seeing how bad it is in parts of the world and knowing you can't help everyone. Driving past children who are drinking water which looks like sewage and knowing that you can't help everyone.

How are you funding this?

The water filters I install cost me $50 each. They have the potential to save thousands of lives, but they still cost $50. So I do fundraisers while I travel, sharing them through my online community. Sometimes they are fitness based; sometimes they are just random once-off events. One time Dean (Warwick local) and I organised a fundraising raffle in Guatemala where, if $1000 was raised, Dean would get his chest waxed. I am always blown away by how much support comes directly from Warwick.

When do you return to Australia?

Now that I have won this competition, I am hoping to get back and surprise my parents in March before I start the 50 destinations. However even if I can't, I know there are several cities in Australia that will be a Jauntaroo destination. Will have to try and make Warwick one.

When did you leave?

2009.

Can you tell me a bit about the place you are staying?

Not sure how to answer this, I have been full-time travelling since 2009. So the only consistent part of my accommodation is my backpack.

What do you hope to achieve?

I want to raise awareness about how other people are living and most importantly show how simple and even effortless it is to make a huge difference to someone's life. I am in the process of setting up an emergency response team so that the next natural disaster I can be there with a team, installing water filters desperately needed and also setting up other volunteer opportunities for travellers looking to get involved.

How can people in Warwick help?

The people of Warwick have been amazing in my fundraising efforts. I think it's a true testament to the character and generosity of small-town country people.