Covid forces second postponement of Rural Aid Coolah visit

Posted on 28 February 202230 May 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has postponed its “Our Towns” visit to Coolah for a second time.   Dozens of volunteers were due to descend on the central west this week for a week-long makeover of the town.   Regrettably, the continuing Covid-19 situation across Australia has put Rural Aid’s visit on hold for now.   Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the safety of the Coolah community, and the Rural Aid cohort, are of the highest importance.   “Rural Aid is committed to staying vigilant against the Covid-19 virus,” Mr Warlters said.   “Rural Aid doesn’t want to convene an event that may unknowingly lead to further spread of the virus.  “We’re frustrated to have to postpone Our Towns for a second time. But health and safety come first,” Mr Warlters said.   “We’re really looking forward to visiting Coolah as soon as possible. Fingers crossed for the third time lucky!”  The original Our Towns event was due to take place between the 8th and 14th of August 2021.  Due to Covid-19, Coolah’s Our Towns event was rescheduled to the 27th February – 5th March, 2022.  This date has now been put on hold.   New dates are currently being workshopped by Coolah’s local leaders and the Rural Aid team.   The award-winning Our Towns program is part of Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures initiative. Rural Aid is heavily invested in strengthening rural communities through its multi-faceted Stronger Futures program- giving locals the resources and confidence needed to help their region thrive.       For interviews or more information, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au

Inverell community groups urged to take part in new Connection Day

Posted on 24 February 202224 February 2022

Northern Tablelands community groups have today been invited to a new Connection Day in Inverell.

The inaugural Connection Day will take place on Saturday the 2nd of April, 2022, at Inverell’s Campbell Street Park.

Organiser and Rural Aid Counsellor and Community Representative, Heidi Gray, said the day will showcase Inverell’s service providers, sporting teams and schools.

“The Connection Day will be full of colour and community,” Ms Gray said.
“We’ll have service providers galore; club sign-ons, interactive stalls, lip-syncing contests, TikTok competitions and live bands. It’s going to be a great afternoon out for the whole family.”

Inverell Shire Council Mayor Paul Harmon has welcomed the new event.
“The Northern Tablelands was hit particularly hard by drought,” Mr Harmon said.

“We were then thrown straight into Covid-19 lockdowns. The upcoming Connection Day will be a fantastic chance for everyone to catch up on the past few years.”

Connection Day organisers have today invited community groups, service providers, sports teams and local schools to get involved in the day. “Connection Day is a chance to catch up with friends, neighbours and to create new connections within the community. Being together is such an important part of rural life and having missed out on that the past couple of years has been tough,” Ms Gray said. “It’s vital to the health of small towns to be social, stay connected and know which services are available to support all members of our community.” The Connection Day will run from 3pm to 8pm on Saturday April the 2nd at Campbell Street Park. Stallholder Expressions of Interest are open until the first week of March. Expressions of interest can be sent to Heidi Gray at heidi.gray@ruralaid.org.au Heidi can also be contacted on 0476 685 834. 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 Please get in touch if you’d like any photos For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757.

Farming families start 2022 with Rural Aid in their corner

Posted on 10 February 202210 February 2022

Farming families start 2022 with Rural Aid in their corner Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, is helping farming families start their year on the right foot. CEO John Warlters said Rural Aid is standing with the nation’s primary producers as they face weather, pandemic and workforce challenges. “Members of Rural Aid’s 16-strong Mental Health and Wellbeing team are on the ground in bushfire and flood affected parts of Australia, helping farmers get back on their feet,” Mr Warlters said. Rural Aid counsellors and community representatives have been assisting West Australian farmers following bushfires, Victorian and South Australian farmers in the wake of freak storms and Queensland farmers after major flooding. “Rural Aid staff have also been working hard to distribute new water tanks and wooden fence posts to our registered farmers throughout the holiday period,” Mr Warlters said. Rural Aid is facilitating a water tank rollout across Australia, and a recycled fence post program in Victoria. “We also have an army of dedicated volunteers, ready and waiting to provide farmers with a helping hand and to support the development of rural towns, as a part of our national Our Towns program.” Mr Warlters said the importance of family farms cannot be overstated in 2022. According to the National Farmers Federation, of the approximately 85,000 farms in Australia, 99pc are family owned and operated. “Family farms are the powerhouses of Aussie agriculture,” Mr Warlters said. “Supply chains have again been pushed to breaking point in the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “But family farms haven’t missed a beat and continue to feed the nation with world class produce. “There is no shortage of fruit, vegetables or meat on our farms. The challenge is ensuring the world class produce grown locally by our farmers finds its way from the farm to the shop shelf without interruption.” “We’re indebted to the agricultural enterprises that feed us all and help keep our economy strong. It’s vital we do all we can to keep them surviving and thriving. Our farmers should be nationally recognised more often. “Rural Aid will continue to stand with farmers and their families by providing practical assistance when required, financial support to ease the pressure, and access to our expanded team of counsellors,” Mr Warlters finished. To register as a primary producer with Rural Aid, visit https://www.ruralaid.org.au/ For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757.

Rural Aid receives $1 million in Giving Day donations

Posted on 15 December 202131 October 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has been overwhelmed by the generous support for our mates in the bush. Australians showed amazing generosity for farmers doing it tough as part of the charity’s inaugural Giving Day. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the outpouring of support shows just how loved and valued our farmers are. “Our incredible farmers push through disaster after disaster to put food on our tables and clothes on our backs,” Mr Warlters said. “It’s heartwarming to see the public recognise their grit in such a generous way. “We’re humbled to receive more than $1 million in donations on our first Giving Day. Thank you to the thousands of Australians who dug deep to help our mates in the bush,” Mr Warlters said. In the past two years, crop and cattle farmer Chris Neilsen has battled through bushfire, drought, mouse plague and most recently, excessive rains. “We’ve been from one extreme to the other,” Mr Neilsen said. His wheat and barley crops were days away from harvest before flooding rains caused them to shoot. “In the period of a month, you’ve seen what you’ve worked the last six months for and it’s gone.” Rural Aid’s supporters answered the call for help with compassionate gusto. Hundreds of donors expressed their gratitude to our farmers when making their financial contributions, leaving messages like: You are the backbone of our society and very much appreciated for all you do. Thank you. I know this is only a small amount but I am extremely grateful for your hard work, dedication and commitment to farming. Coming from a farming family I understand the challenges and difficulties you face, especially from circumstances out of your control. Hang in there. Rural Aid originally set a fundraising target of $750,000, but that goal was beaten around lunchtime on Giving Day, Friday the 10th of December. A revised target of $1 million was reached early this week. “We’d like to thank our corporate partners that have helped eclipse the $1 million mark including Evolution Mining, Domino’s and Godolphin,” Mr Warlters said. “We are grateful beyond words for every dollar donated. “Thanks to the generosity of the public, Rural Aid will be able to help more farmers in more places in 2022,” Mr Warlters finished. For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au About Rural Aid Rural Aid is Australia’s most active and trusted rural charity. Rural Aid is helping to tackle the ongoing mental health crisis in a number of ways including disaster and financial relief services, water and fodder donations, and free on-the-ground counselling and volunteer support. Rural Aid’s first annual Giving Day will raise funds to provide these critical services and give much needed support to rural families for future disasters.

Rural Aid extends fundraising goal on first Annual Giving Day

Posted on 10 December 202131 October 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity has extended its fundraising target after beating its first goal in a matter of hours. Incredibly, generous Australians have helped Rural Aid eclipse its Giving Day fundraising goal of $750,000 before midday. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the charity has now boosted its target to $1 million. “We’ve been blown away by how quickly and generously the public has reached into their hearts today,” Mr Warlters said. “We’ve extended our goal to $1 million so that we can better help our mates in the bush into the new year.” Funds from Rural Aid’s Giving Day will go towards its vital programs including free on-the-ground counselling, financial relief services, water and hay deliveries and volunteer support. “Our farmers have had a tough year between drought, flood, mouse plague and a pandemic to top it off,” Mr Warlters said. “Watching the outpouring of support has been inspiring to see. It demonstrates again how generous the Australian community is in support of our farmers. The outpouring of support and messages of gratitude and thanks has been overwhelming.” “Thanks to everyone who has donated a little or a lot, it all helps us to stand with our farmers when they need it most,” Mr Warlters said. “Donations from Rural Aid’s amazing corporate partners Evolution Mining and Tabcorp have significantly bolstered our fundraising total. Rural Aid is very grateful for our business supporters.” Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said there is still time plenty of time to donate, with the Giving Day officially ending at 5pm today. “Every dollar makes a difference. Please donate if you can,” Mr Warlters said. To donate head to www.ruralaid.org.au/for-our-mates or call 1300 327 624. For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au About Rural Aid Rural Aid is Australia’s most active and trusted rural charity. Rural Aid is helping to tackle the ongoing mental health crisis in a number of ways including disaster and financial relief services, water and fodder donations, and free on-the-ground counselling and volunteer support. Rural Aid’s first annual Giving Day will raise funds to provide these critical services and give much needed support to rural families for future disasters.