Category: News

Country music star releases Rural Aid concert hit

Posted on

Queensland singer-songwriter Mick Lindsay is just one week away from launching his latest single as part of Rural Aid’s Good Onya Mate concert. 

After hearing of the concert last year, Mick and country music icon Lee Kernaghan were so moved they put pen to paper, writing the “Good Onya Mate” single for the November event. 

“It’s about Aussie mateship, culture and helping a mate out when times are tough. Our Aussie farmers have endured floods, fire, drought, and more recently, a lot of challenges with Covid-19,” Mick said.  

“And although for the most part it’s looking up, there are still a lot of people on the land that could use a hand up,” he added.  

Mick Lindsay

CEO of Rural Aid John Warlters said “Good Onya Mate” was the perfect reflection of the Aussie way of life. 

“Mick’s new song is an Australian anthem. Rural Aid was proud to debut it at our Good Onya Mate concert,” Mr Warlters said.  “It’s great to see Mick officially launching the song on February 26th. It’s the perfect way to end Rural Aid’s Mates Helping Mates Australia Day campaign.” 

Mick Lindsay said the Rural Aid support of hay, water, financial help and mental wellbeing counselling has a powerful impact across the nation.  

“Rural Aid is a vital part of rural Australia’s support network. I’d urge you to check out the work that they are doing by jumping on the socials or going to www.ruralaid.org.au,” he said.  

“If you’d like to help out our farmers, always buy local, Australian-made produce and consider throwing a few bucks to Rural Aid to support their cause.” 

Donations can still be made to the Mates Helping Mates fundraiser by visiting www.ruralaid.org.au/mates-helping-mates   

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

[ENDS]  

Rural Aid runs hay in Winton for the next week!

Posted on

Leading rural charity Rural Aid has started an extra-ordinary hay drop in the Winton area. More than 300 tonnes of hay will be distributed to farmers this week alone. 

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said there was still a significant need for hay in regions that haven’t been fortunate enough to receive recent rain.  

“Two thirds of Queensland is still drought-declared and the Central West is no exception. Rural Aid will provide more than 430 bales to Winton farmers over the next two weeks.” 

Mr Warlters said the scale of this Rural Aid operation is far more concentrated than the charity’s hay-drops in recent months.  

More than 20 farmers are expected to benefit from the hay run, with at least six road trains due to pull into Winton in coming days. 

Mr Warlters said generous donations from everyday Aussies had made the Outback mission possible.  

“Rural Aid simply couldn’t deliver the hay, drinking water, financial assistance and mental wellbeing counselling that it does, without our wonderful donors. Thank you to all those who support Rural Aid – your donations make a real difference in farmers’ lives.” 

This year, Rural Aid has already delivered more than 800 tonnes of hay across Queensland. Rural Aid hay trucks have travelled from Gwambegwine to Gladfield to The Gums and dozens of towns in between. Rural Aid is encouraging farmers in need of hay to get in touch via the Rural Aid website www.ruralaid.org.au  or by calling 1300 327 624. 

For more information on this hay run, please contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au  

Eight successful small towns to star in Rural Aid program

Posted on

Rural Aid is less than one week away from rolling out a digital red carpet to showcase eight Aussie communities that have turned their town around.  

Rural Aid will do so via its hugely popular Community Builders webinar series which returns in 2021 with an initial focus on the “reinvention of small towns.” 

The 2021 webinars start next Thursday (February 11), at 4pm AEDT time.  

Webinars will feature everyday Aussies from the following towns, who were brave enough to shoot for the stars to reinvent their region, and passionate enough to see it through. 

Location Date Reinventing a small town through…  
Norseman, WA 11th February Positive first impressions  
Mount Magnet, WA 18th February Indigenous Badimaya culture and heritage 
Sheffield, TAS 25th February Murals and public art 
Donald, VIC 4th March Ignoring the remote label with enterprise 
Indi (electorate), VIC 11th March Local power and energy initiatives 
Horsham, VIC 18th March Revitalizing the country show 
Junee, NSW 25th March Entrepreneurial value adding local agricultural products 
Leeton, NSW 1st April Making the most of the assets in your town 

Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters, said he was excited to see such an engaging line-up to kick start 2021.  

“The Community Builders webinars are an invaluable resource to people wanting to renew their small town. I’d encourage anyone with an interest in keeping their rural community vibrant and energised, to sign up.” 

The webinars form part of Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program launched in June which sought to do as the name suggested – help create stronger futures for farming families and their towns by providing wellbeing support, assisting with community sustainability and knowledge sharing. 

In the first episode, Peter Fitchat, the CEO of the Dundas shire, will detail the steps Norseman locals took to entice visitors 7.5 hours east of Perth to visit their community. The town of fewer than 600 people has worked hard to ensure tourists’ first impressions of Norseman are positive, and powerful.  

Off the back of the success of the 2020 series, Peter Kenyon from the Bank of IDEAS will lead each webinar with his endless knowledge on small towns.  Lyndsey Douglas will expertly host the hour-long sessions.  

Registering once ensures you will be notified ahead of each webinar. Register now at: https://my.demio.com/ref/RUGroFy8QM6JQC4d    

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

Mates Rates for Farmers

Posted on

Mates Rates are a mainstay of Aussie culture. But instead of helping a mate out by saving them a few dollars, what if you could help a mate out even more, by donating a few dollars?

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, has encouraged locals to continue the spirit of Australia Day, to help out Aussie farmers.  

“We’re great at lending a hand to mates in need here in Australia – it’s one of the best parts of our nation,” Mr Warlters said.  

“Right now, our farmers are in need of some ‘Mates Rates’. Rural Aid is encouraging the rest of the nation to dig deep to help out our farming families. By donating a few dollars to Rural Aid, you’ll help a farming family and their community get back on their feet after years of drought and devastating bushfires.” 

Last financial year, Rural Aid distributed more than $28 million worth of fodder, water, financial assistance and counselling to farmers and towns in need of a helping hand.  

Donations from the Mates Helping Mates campaign will contribute to Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program, an initiative that helps rejuvenate towns and surrounding farms. 

The multi-pronged program provides the knowledge, resources and the heavy lifters to ensure rural communities are maximizing their full potential.  

The Mates Helping Mates campaign is a third of the way towards its target of $100,000. 

“These generous donations will help to change the lives of our farming mates,” Mr Warlters said. 

To make a donation, visit www.ruralaid.org.au/mates-helping-mates  

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

[ENDS] 

Rural Aid congratulates hard-working volunteers for Australia Day recognition

Posted on

Two town-makeover projects overseen by Rural Aid have been recognised in Australia Day awards, to the delight of the leading rural charity.  

Monto in Queensland’s North Burnett and Alpha in Central Queensland were both awarded the Community Event of the Year award, by their respective councils.  

Both regional centres are part of Rural Aid’s Our Towns initiative, which provides communities with $100,000 worth of projects, support and tools to renew their town over the next five years. This started with a strategic planning session guided by Peter Kenyon from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S.  

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the awards are a credit to the local committees and hard-working volunteers who devoted time and effort to the projects.  

“Months of planning and thousands of hours of hard yakka went into each Our Towns event last year. It’s wonderful to see everyday Aussies recognised for their tireless efforts,” Mr Warlters said.  

Peter Kenyon added, “They’re such well-deserved awards, and are testaments to the passion and commitment local people have dedicated to their communities.” 

One of the masterminds behind the Alpha makeover is police officer Brian Smith, who said the small town has been changed for the better as part of the transformation.  

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the community. And we just take our hats off to everyone to who came in and helped our town,” Sergeant Smith said.  

Carly Baker-Burnham is an integral part of the Monto makeover and was “thrilled” to hear of the award.  

“The impact [of the Our Towns] has been really positive, it’s really lifted the town’s morale,” she said.  

“It helped community groups beautify the place they gather, as well as our main street. Monto was really buzzing during that time, and it’s helped improve our sense of community and identity.” 

MONTO MILESTONE: (L) Melinda Jones, President of Monto Magic Tourism Action Group 
and Carly Baker-Burnham, Managing Director of The Rex  with their award.

John Warlters said the volunteers who spent a week tackling renewal projects in the towns, and the two major sponsorship partners Evolution Mining and Energy Queensland, should also consider the award their own. 

“The amazing town transformations couldn’t have been completed without those on the ground and behind the scenes. Congratulations to all involved – what a wonderful achievement to be recognised on Australia Day.” 

For more information on Our Towns head online to  www.ruralaid.org.au/our-towns  

Contact Rural Aid media for more information on 0447 116 757 or at media@ruralaid.org.au