Category: News

Flood waste on Northern Rivers farms turned into useful mulch

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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

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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.

Orroroo’s “never looked better” following Rural Aid transformation

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Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid, has finished a week of transformative works in the South Australian town of Orroroo.  
30 volunteers helped makeover parts of the historic city during the Rural Aid ‘Our Towns’ week.   
Orroroo was one of ten towns chosen for the $100,000 program, which included a week of makeover works and a long-term Community Development Plan. The plan was created by local leaders, Rural Aid staff and Peter Kenyon from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S.  
 
Church before

Church after

Orroroo’s Country Fire Shed, Catholic Church, swimming pool and Solly’s Hut were all spruced up by the Rural Aid team.  
The volunteer crew also built a new garden bed at the town’s buggy display and concreted a new ramp at the golf club. 

Golf club before
Golf club after

 
“Orroroo has never looked better! We’re really moving forward. It’s such a bonus for us,” Orroroo local leader Lyn Hounsell said. 
“It was fantastic, the volunteers were a joy to talk to. I went around and tried to meet all the different groups, and they were just lovely. Very chatty and so happy to be there! I find it hard to believe that they can get 30 volunteers to come to a small country town in the middle of South Australia! It’s huge.” 
Rural Aid’s Community Program Coordinator, Jen Curnow-Trotter, said it was a magical week in the welcoming town.  
“Orroroo is one of those towns where you can just feel the immense town pride from the locals,” Jen said.  
“It was our honour to spend the week in Orroroo. We can’t wait to watch the town further embrace their Community Development Plan.”  
“And a huge thanks to our amazing volunteers, many of who travelled thousands of kilometres to spend their week volunteering in Orroroo,” Jen finished. 

Agribusiness leaders attend Rural Aid Long Lunch

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Supporters of Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, have made the organisation’s inaugural Long Lunch event a resounding success.
Held in Brisbane last Friday, the Rural Aid Long Lunch was attended by some of the biggest names in the agribusiness and farming industries. 
The April 8 Long Lunch included a charity auction, performance by Lee Kernaghan, and guest speaker appearances from Laura Geitz, Shane Webcke and Tony Gollan.
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said it was humbling to see the extraordinary generosity on display.
“I’ve been overwhelmed to witness the passion that local businesses, both big and small, have for our growers and graziers,” Mr Warlters said.
“The funds raised today will make a real difference to our farmer’s lives as they continue their drought, flood and bushfire recovery.”
“Our ongoing priority is to ensure Rural Aid can fund the placement of more counsellors into more communities to support more farming families,” Mr Warlters finished.
Rural Aid’s expanding mental health program was the focus of the lunch. Guests heard from Rural Aid counsellors about the importance of Rural Aid’s complimentary ‘farm-gate’ counselling program.
“Rural Aid’s counselling service is so vital,” Manager of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lauren Stracey, said.
“Our farmers have bravely fought through disaster after disaster, but many are now feeling totally numb or completely swamped.
“We offer free, confidential counselling to our farmers wherever they are most comfortable. We travel hundreds of kilometres to chat to farmers at their kitchen table or over the back fence. This culturally-appropriate, flexible service is so important to ensure our farmers are not slipping through the cracks,” Ms Stracey explained.
Rural Aid now employs 16 counsellors, based in rural and regional towns across Australia and is looking to grow this number with support from the Australian public.  

LINK to photo gallery can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tnlsrq8qgoxfqoh/AACUfqlX1Vp74xdxLehQJMqLa?dl=0
 
For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757.

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