Rural Aid Long Lunch raises $175K for farmers

Posted on 3 April 20233 April 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has raised more than $175,000 for farming families at its second annual Long Lunch.  

More than 340 guests attended the Howard Smith Wharves event on Friday 31 March.   

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters thanked the agribusiness community for their attendance and steadfast support.  

A significant milestone donation was also celebrated at the Long Lunch.  

Woolworths Group surpassed $10 million in donations to Rural Aid.   

“Thanks to the unwavering support of Woolworths Group, Rural Aid has been able to respond to more than 50,000 requests for help from farmers battling droughts, bushfires, plagues and floods,” Mr Warlters said.  

“It’s a significant number of farmers that we’ve been able to assist over the past eight years; it’s equivalent to every person in Dubbo receiving some form of assistance, whether it be hay, pre-paid VISA cards or free counselling, all thanks to Woolworths Group’s support.”  

Brad Banducci, Woolworths Group CEO said, “Our partnership with Rural Aid began through the grassroots support from our supermarkets to their local communities doing it tough during the drought. It has grown to become an important part of our national commitment at Woolworths Group to stand by regional Australia during times of natural disasters and delivering on our purpose of creating better experience together for a better tomorrow. 

“I’d like to thank our team and also our customers for their generous support over the past few years. We’re pleased that together with Rural Aid we have been able to support so many communities impacted in challenging times across the country.” 

Among the generous donations made at the Long Lunch event was a $60,000 donation from S.Kidman & Co, presented on behalf of Chairman Gina Rinehart by Kidman board member Loretta Leung and acting chief executive officer Adam Giles.  

Rural Aid also received a $60,000 donation from James Power, the owner of the famous Norman Hotel, which celebrated its own Long Lunch the day prior.  

“Rural Aid is grateful for their support, and especially thanks Mrs Rinehart, Ms Leung and Mr Power,” Mr Warlters said.

A number of political leaders also attended the Long Lunch event.   

“It was our pleasure to welcome the National Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Minister, Senator Murray Watt, alongside Queensland’s Agriculture Minister Mark Furner and opposition Agriculture spokesperson, Tony Perrett,” Mr Warlters said.   

“Their commitment to the ag industry is clear, and we thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to learn more about the work Rural Aid does,” 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

For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on media@ruralaid.org.au or 0447 116 757. 

Rural Aid’s popular photography competition returns

Posted on 27 March 202327 March 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has today opened its fourth annual Spirit of the Bush photography competition.  

The winning twelve photographs will be used in Rural Aid’s stunning 2024 calendar.  

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said he was excited to see what the bush’s talented photographers had captured this year.  

“The photographs that are submitted are always breathtakingly raw, real, and reflect the highs and lows of life on the land,” Mr Warlters said.  

“Last year, we received more than 1100 entries from across the country, making it very hard to whittle down to just 12 winners.” 

“I hope to see dozens of photos of successful crops, happy working dogs and fat cattle.” 

“On the flipside, the pictures of flooded creeks and empty paddocks tell a sobering, but equally important, story.” 

“I’d encourage anyone with a love, and eye, for the bush, to send their photos in,” Mr Warlters finished.  

Photographers are encouraged to submit their photos to the themes of; Family, Community, Mates, Faces, Eyes, Tough, Golden Hour (Sunrise/Sunset), or All Things Rural.  

Winners will be awarded a feature in the 2024 calendar, and a $250 pre-paid VISA card.   

The competition closes 29 May, 2023. 

To enter the competition, entrants must submit a high-resolution, landscape image via Instagram or Facebook, with the hashtag #SOTB2023 and tag @ruralaid in the picture, or upload their photo through the Woobox link: www.ruralaid.org.au/spirit-of-the-bush  

Rural Aid’s 2024 calendar will be available for purchase later this year. 

Proceeds will directly support Rural Aid’s range of programs that help farmers and their families.   

The competition’s Terms and Conditions can be found at www.ruralaid.org.au/spirit-of-the-bush 

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. 

Rural Aid offers flooded farmers in NW Queensland assistance

Posted on 16 March 20239 October 2023

Rural Aid has announced a suite of assistance measures for flooded farmers in North West Queensland.  

Eligible primary producers are now able to apply for a $500 Pre-Paid Visa card from Rural Aid to provide some immediate relief for farmers and their families.  

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the scale of the devastation will be immense.   

“It will be weeks before affected graziers know how many head of cattle they’ve lost to floodwaters and disease,” Mr Warlters said.  

“This will heighten the distress these communities are feeling. It’s hard to consider your flood recovery when you’re displaced and unsure of how many of your beloved stock have died.” 

“Natural disasters hit particularly hard in isolated regions, and this record-breaking flood is no different.” 

Mr Warlters said financial assistance is just one resource that Rural Aid is offering farmers.  

“We also offer farmers and their families free mental health counselling,” Mr Warlters said.  

“Our counsellors are specially trained to help rural people through the turmoil of natural disasters. They’re free of charge and are just a phone call away, through Rural Aid’s dedicated counselling support line on 1300 175 594.” 

Rural Aid staff are also assessing future fodder deliveries.  

“Conditions are still dangerous and volatile. Once everyone is safe and emergency services have done their part, Rural Aid will be able to provide more tangible assistance,” Mr Warlters said.  

“In 2019 when floods decimated north Queensland and killed hundreds of thousands of cattle, Rural Aid was able to fly fodder in to help hungry livestock.  

“Now, four years on, we are again standing with these farmers when they need us most. 

“I urge affected primary producers to register with us and let us know what they need, to help get them back on their feet,” Mr Warlters finished.  

Farmers across the nine flood affected LGAs can register with Rural Aid by visiting www.ruralaid.org.au or by calling 1300 327 624. 

Rural Aid’s team of counsellors can be contacted on 1300 175 594 during business hours Monday to Friday.

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 

Rural Aid Volunteers Lend a Hand in Flood-ravaged Eugowra

Posted on 16 March 202316 March 2023

Flood-affected farmers in New South Wales’ Central West region have had their recovery efforts boosted, thanks to a visit from Rural Aid volunteers.  

Twenty-five Rural Aid volunteers have spent a week helping five Eugowra farmers, following the terrifying floods that swept the region late last year.  

Eugowra farmer Ray Townsend’s family has been farming on this land for more than 120 years.   

“It’s hard to explain how bad the floods were. They were bigger than anything I’ve seen in my lifetime. My father told me stories from when he was a boy, but to see this devastation with my own eyes is shocking,” he said. 

A team of Rural Aid volunteers have helped Ray fix hundreds of metres of fencing on his family farm; a job that’s still overwhelming, three months on.  

“The further we go into it, the more we realise the repair work we have to do. 

“It’s been absolutely fantastic the support we’ve been shown. Thank you very much to everybody who’s attended,” Mr Townsend said.  

Farmer Dave Herbert also lost a significant amount of his fencing and cropping assets.  

“In 2022, we had three flood events in four to five weeks along the valley. Every one of those events was larger than the one before.” 

Mr Herbert was grateful for the help the Rural Aid volunteers provided.  

“The thing that they bring, apart from the hard work they’ve put in particularly with the fencing, is actually that community aspect. You know that you’ve got people out there who care about what’s happened to you and it restores a bit of faith in what you are trying to do.” 

Grant Miskimmin, Rural Aid’s Farm Co-ordinator, said the average age of Rural Aid’s volunteer force was 68 years old.  

“These volunteers are from all over the country, they are an amazing bunch,” he said. 

“They travel thousands of kilometres to help out and come with an amazing set of skills.”  

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said several Central West graziers were this week gifted lick blocks and hay bales, thanks to the generosity of the Australian public, and support of innovative lick block manufacturer AgCoTech.  

“Seven farmers picked up their hay bales today and five farmers received a pallet of lick blocks each on Tuesday,” Mr Warlters said.  

“Rural Aid has also been able to help the region’s farmers with financial assistance and free mental health counselling. Rural Aid is committed to standing with our farmers when they need it most to help get them back on track after a disaster.” 

“A huge thanks must go to our donors, who make these big volunteer weeks possible through their generosity. 

“Thank you also to Newcrest Mining who provided several hard-working volunteers this week,” Mr Warlters finished.  

Farmers are encouraged to register with Rural Aid at www.ruralaid.org.au/services-provided.  

Donations to Rural Aid can be made at www.ruralaid.org.au/donate. 

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 

Reboot your farming family in 2023

Posted on 9 February 202323 February 2023

Is it time to reboot your family farming operations? If your grazing or farming family business needs an injection of new information and skills to become more climate resilient, the Farming Family Reboot in Armidale this April could be just the ticket.

The SQNNSW Innovation Hub’s Armidale Node Manager, Lu Hogan, from the University of New England’s SMART Region Incubator, said the free three-day event was a chance for members of farming families and businesses to improve their critical decision making and teamwork skills.

“When you are part of a family-run livestock, cropping or mixed enterprise, being able to work together is critical to not just the success of the business but the family as well,” she said.

“The Farming Family Reboot workshop (Armidale, April 18-20), is a chance for people to take some time out from the daily work of the farm, to think, plan, review their goals and build some new skills that will help in managing future climate related business challenges.”

This free event features high quality guest speakers and hands on in-paddock sessions. Accommodation and meals are included, thanks to the support of Rural Aid, the University of New England (UNE) and the SQNNSW Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Childcare may also be available at the UNE campus (bookings required).

“This is the second year we have offered the Farming Family Reboot, after overwhelmingly positive reactions in 2022. We heard excellent feedback about not just the quality of our speakers and hands on activities, but about how much benefit there was when the whole family could attend,” Ms Hogan said.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said 100% of the pilot cohort agreed that they were likely to use the provided material again, that the content was relevant to their needs, and it was easy to understand. More than 90% strongly agreed they were likely to either make practice changes or consider making changes because of attending.

“Rural Aid is well-known for the critical support it provides farmers affected by natural disaster, but we also have an important role to play in helping producers prepare for those challenges,” Mr Warlters said.

The three day program covers: the way decisions are made on the farm; understanding and using critical decision points and weather forecasts in the livestock and cropping cycle to better manage climate challenges; matching stocking rate to feed supply; supplementary feeding of livestock to meet production goals; considering investment in new infrastructure to better manage drought and other climate challenges; relationships within the family and making better decisions as a family; and research and development at UNE SMART Farms.

The Farming Family Reboot will be held at the University of New England, Armidale on April 18-20, and all accommodation and meals are included. To express your interest in attending (places are limited), register via bit.ly/FFR2023. For more information about the program contact Lu Hogan on lhogan22@une.edu.au or 0427 687 432.

The Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Find out more at unisq.edu.au/sqnnswhub.

For more information, contact SQNNSW Innovation Hub Communications Coordinator Lisa Yorkston: 0448 263 767 or Lisa.Yorkston@usq.edu.au.