Rural Aid’s flood funding surpasses $1million

Posted on 14 June 202214 June 2022

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has received more than $1million dollars in flood funding from generous donors and corporate supporters.  

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the charity has distributed the funds to primary producers in a quick, efficient manner. 
“In the past three months, Rural Aid has distributed the vast majority of its donated flood funds to our flood-affected farmers,” Mr Warlters said.  

“This has enabled our farmers to take another step towards their recovery goals, while many wait for government assistance to hit their accounts.”  “At least 500 payments have been made to Rural Aid’s farmers in New South Wales and Queensland since the flood crisis, thanks to the outstanding level of donations from the public, and the backing and generosity of our many corporate supporters,” Mr Warlters said.

Mooball fruit grower Peter Brils said financial assistance was the most effective way for him to start his flood recovery process.   The Tweed Shire farmer lost a portion of his fruit and trees in the recent flood events.   “The rain impacts our harvest really intensely. We lost a lot of crop, there is devastation,” Mr Brils said.   He is now working to change the destructive way water flows across his property.   “I’m happy with financial help so I can get things done. I don’t have bobcats, I don’t have machinery. In my case, I need machinery and that costs money.”  Mr Warlters said the charity will continue to support flood-affected farmers as they take on long-term projects.   “Rural Aid offers our registered farmers a range of assistance measures; from free counselling, to fodder drops and water deliveries,” Mr Warlters said.   “Rural Aid is also proud to be supporting our farmers with additional assistance from Multikraft Probiotic Solutions. More than 30 producers have received aerial applications of their MicroBalance solution that turns rotting flood waste into a healthy by-product.  “Thanks to Rural Aid’s unwavering supporters, we can continue to help our farmers into the future,” Mr Warlters finished.     About Rural Aid  Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers. Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au  For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757.

Gravesend farmer receives Rural Aid’s 100th water tank

Posted on 3 June 20223 June 2022

A Northern Tablelands cattle farmer is the 100th primary producer in Australia to receive a free tank and a truck load of water as part of a Rural Aid and Finish initiative. Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has distributed 100 x 22,500 litre water tanks to drought-affected farmers over the past six months. The tanks have been delivered to farmers in low rainfall areas to improve their water security. During the drought, farmer Bronwyn Sargeant and her family frequently ran out of water. Bronwyn described the past few years as “horrendous”. Bronwyn recently welcomed a “life-changing” new tank onto the family property.   “A huge thank you to Rural Aid and Finish for providing the tank. It’s a wonderful initiative and is such a support for farmers who’ve been through so much.” Rural Aid’s Counsellor and Community Representative on the Northern Tablelands, Heidi Gray, said the impacts of the drought are still being felt in the community.

“Recovering from a drought takes years. Memories of empty tanks are still very raw in farmers’ minds,” Ms Gray said.
“Having a new tank that’s full of water makes a huge difference to a farmer’s mindset. Being able to capture more rainfall when the next drought does arrive is an invaluable gift.
“It’s just one less thing for them to worry about. It might give them an extra 10 minutes sleep at night, which might make all the difference for them the next day.”
Since 2019, Finish has donated more than 14 million litres of water to drought-affected Australians through its #FinishWaterWaste initiative.
Saurabh Jain, Reckitt Benckiser’s Marketing Director, said it feels “fantastic” to reach the 100^th tank milestone.
“We’re really proud to support the delivery of 100 water tanks to farmers across Australia,” Mr Jain said.
“This brings invaluable peace of mind to farmers and their families. That is priceless.”
To register with Rural Aid, visit www.ruralaid.org.au  or call 1300 327 624.

About Rural Aid
Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers. Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au

For more information or for interviews, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757.

Rural Aid arrives in Lockington for Our Towns week 

Posted on 17 May 202217 May 2022

Rural Aid’s “Our Towns” makeover week has begun in Lockington, with dozens of volunteers starting work on the town’s nominated projects.   Lockington is one of 10 towns across Australia chosen to receive $100,000 to help deliver a range of community-building projects.   

Small town expert Peter Kenyon from the Bank of IDEAS worked with Lockington’s local leaders and Rural Aid staff to create a Community Development Plan to guide the town’s priorities and projects.   43 Rural Aid volunteers are now helping to deliver the plan by completing a number of dedicated projects.   The Rural Aid team is this week working on Lockington’s bowls club, Senior Citizens Hall, tennis club, rail trail, heritage centre, boardwalk and pony club.   Lockington local and Our Town coordinator Wendy Sims said the town was buzzing.   “It’s wonderful for the Lockington community to see this project arrive,” she said.   “It’s so satisfying to know that other people have belief in us and see us as important.”  Rural Aid works coordinator Grant Miskimmin said the team has been welcomed with open arms by the Lockington community.   “It’s a pleasure to help the Lockington community with this project,” Grant said.   “We’re honoured to be able to give some treasured local assets a real boost over the next week and help support the people of Lockington, our mates in the bush.”  Locals are encouraged to say hello to Rural Aid’s friendly team around town this week.   The Rural Aid convoy arrived in Lockington on 15 May and will leave on 21st May.     About Rural Aid   Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers. Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au     For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757.

Flood waste on Northern Rivers farms turned into useful mulch

Posted on 27 April 202227 April 2022

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has helped Northern Rivers farmers turn rotting flood waste into a healthy by-product for soil improvement, through a partnership with Multikraft Probiotic Solutions. Multikraft’s MicroBalance product was last week sprayed by helicopter onto 33 farms in northern New South Wales. The probiotic solution is a multi-strain microbial product, that benefits soil health by quickly decomposing flood debris and organic matter into useful mulch. Wardell Macadamia grower Robbie Commens described the past few months as ‘incredibly overwhelming’. “We had about a metre and a half of water over all of our trees,” Mr Commens said. But the Rural Aid and Multikraft initiative has given the grower a ‘shot in the arm’. “Invaluable is the only word I can say. It’s helped us all stand an inch taller and take a bigger step forward.” Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the project was a practical and timely solution for flood-affected farmers. “Farmers have responded to this microbial spraying project with tears of joy, buoyed at the prospect of seeing their farms recover from the floods more quickly,” Mr Warlters said. “Rural Aid is proud to offer this product to our Northern Rivers farmers, alongside our existing assistance measures like financial support and free counselling,” Mr Warlters said.

The product and its aerial application were distributed to Rural Aid farmers free of charge. More than 4500 acres were sprayed across the Northern Rivers.
Bill Hoare, Multikraft’s Chief Innovation Officer, said sustainability was at the heart of the debris-spraying project, and of the Rural Aid partnership.
“It’s an honour to be able to give flood-affected farmers a boost to their recovery,” Mr Hoare said.
“Our microbial solutions are designed to increase productivity and resilience whilst reducing the need for harmful chemicals,” Mr Hoare said.
Rural Aid’s CEO said the spraying initiative was a fitting way to mark the start of an important new Rural Aid and Multikraft partnership.
“Rural Aid is committed to standing with our farmers for decades to come,” Mr Warlters said.
“To maintain Rural Aid’s long-term resilience, the organisation has implemented a number of strategies to diversify its income streams.  This includes a recent strategic investment into the Multikraft business.
“Rural Aid will continue to investigate opportunities to grow in strength through a combination of investment income, individual donations and also creative corporate partnerships.
“Long term relationships are an opportunity that we look forward to exploring with any businesses that share the vision Rural Aid has for supporting farming families and communities across Australia,” Mr Warlters said.  
 
About Rural Aid
Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers. Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au
 
About Multikraft Probiotic Solutions
Multikraft Probiotic Solutions has developed a range of sustainable microbial products which help to increase overall resilience and productivity, whilst also reducing reliance on harmful chemicals. Our tailored solutions cover the Plant & Cropping, Animal and Environmental & Waste sectors. Multikraft has decades of experience across the globe and has been actively helping Australian farmers since 2014. Find out more at www.multikraft.com.au
 
For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757. 

Rural Aid delivers hay to fire-affected WA farmers

Posted on 14 April 202214 April 2022

Australia’s most trusted rural charity has delivered 74 bales of hay to bushfire-affected farmers in West Australia’s Great Southern region.   Thousands of hectares were damaged in long-burning blazes that first started sweeping the region in February 2022.  On Wednesday, 45 tonnes of hay was delivered to Denmark, to be shared between five farmers.    It was the first Rural Aid hay drop into West Australia since 2019.  Rural Aid counsellor and community representative in the Wagin area, Roger Hitchcock, said the bushfires continued to smoulder for up to two months.  “The bushfires were horrendous, and saw countless sheds, paddocks and livestock destroyed,” Mr Hitchcock said.   “The road to recovery is long and hard. Many of these farmers have been handfeeding their cows and calves, as any green grass has been eaten down quickly.”  “It’s going to be a pretty long winter. Rural Aid is proud to be able to take some worry away from our farmers, even if it’s just covering their week’s stockfeed,” Mr Hitchcock said.   Rural Aid is encouraging primary producers to register with the charity, and to request fodder if needed.  “Rural Aid provides a range of services such as financial assistance, fodder support, volunteer access and free counselling sessions,” Mr Hitchcock said.   “It’s worth registering with Rural Aid even in a good season; it’s one less thing to worry about if you find yourself in a tight spot.”  Farmers can register at www.ruralaid.org.au or by calling 1300 327 624.     About Rural Aid  Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. We stand with our farmers when they need us most. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers. Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au    For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757.