Australia Day is the perfect chance to help a mate

Posted on 26 January 202131 October 2023

Australia’s leading rural charity has today launched its 2021 fundraising efforts on a day that embodies the essence of being a mate – Australia Day.  

Rural Aid is encouraging the nation to dig deep to help our farmers who are still bravely battling the effects of bushfires and drought.  

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the Mates Helping Mates campaign is a great chance to show our appreciation for those on the land. 

“A donation to the Mates Helping Mates campaign is the perfect way to lend a helping hand to a farmer,” he said.  

“Unfortunately, drought and bushfires create long-term challenges for rural communities, which aren’t always fixed by decent rain. Rural Aid helps farmers and townships that are struggling to get back on their feet, after some of the toughest years in history.” 

The money donated to the Mates Helping Mates campaign will contribute to Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program.  

The multi-faceted initiative provides farmers with wellbeing through Rural Aid’s team of resilience building counsellors and rural communities with the ideas, resources and volunteers they need to reinvigorate their town.   

Last financial year, Rural Aid provided assistance to the tune of $28 million dollars to farmers and their communities, in the form of fodder, drinking water, counselling and financial support.  

“As we mark Australia Day, and celebrate the great parts of our country, consider helping out a mate you’ve never met,” Mr Warlters said.  

“The assistance Rural Aid provides helps change the lives of everyday Aussie farmers.” 

Rural Aid’s Mates Helping Mates campaign continues into February. To make a donation, visit www.ruralaid.org.au/mates-helping-mates  

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

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RURAL AID BUILDS ON 2020 WEBINAR SUCCESS

Posted on 21 January 202131 October 2023

Australia’s leading rural charity is helping strengthen country towns through another round of free Community Builders webinars.  

Off the back of last year’s popular sessions, this year’s series features more community leaders who’ve gone above and beyond to ensure their beloved town is put back on the map- for tourists and residents alike.  

The free webinars will run for eight weeks, under the theme ‘The Reinvention of Small Towns’. Norseman in Western Australia is the first town to be featured, starting off the series on February 11 at 4pm AEDT. 

Local leaders in in this town have worked hard to make sure their patch has a big impact on passers-by making a powerful and positive first impression on travellers. The communities have then transformed that awe and interest, into generous numbers of returned visitors.  

Hailing from the north of WA, Peter Fitchat CEO of The Shire of Dundas in the town of Norseman will kickstart the series, sharing his insights on being part of a community that punches above its weight. 

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the webinars are an integral part of the Stronger Futures program. 

“Rural Aid is heavily invested in strengthening rural communities through the sharing of ideas and experience. Connecting locals with a dream, to those with the means, can result in the transformation of entire districts,” Mr Warlters said. 

Peter Kenyon from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. fearlessly leads the webinars, freely sharing his immense knowledge on revitalizing regional centres. He’s urged anyone interested in breathing new life into their community to tune in. 

“Each webinar is bursting with insider knowledge. Experienced community leaders generously offer their success stories on how to turn a town around,” Mr Kenyon said.  

The series will feature towns who’ve used innovative methods to renew their community, such as: 

• Positive First Impressions 
• Indigenous Culture and Heritage 
• Murals and Public Art 
• Ignoring the Remote Label with Enterprise 
• Local Power/Energy Initiatives 
• Revitalisation of the Country Show 
• Making the most of the assets in your town  
• Entrepreneurial Value adding Local Agricultural Products 

To register for the webinars, visit https://my.demio.com/ref/RUGroFy8QM6JQC4d  

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

NATIONAL CONCERT FOR FARMERS TOMORROW

Posted on 27 November 202031 October 2023

https://youtu.be/qLM9xLSxhBg

Rural Aid’s unofficial spokesperson, The Ringer, provides 4 key rules for dressing like a farmer.

One of Australia’s largest rural charities, Rural Aid, is asking all Australians to dress like a farmer for the national “Good Onya Mate” fundraising concert tomorrow night, 28 November.

Rural Aid’s unofficial spokesperson for the event, known as The Ringer, held a press conference today to advise Australians three key rules to dressing like farmers at their local Good Onya Mate gatherings. 

“Rules one: don’t chew straw, it’s not Little House on the Prairie,” The Ringer says from his paddock in central Queensland.

“Rule two: ya don’t have to listen to country music but it might pay to know who Slim, Lee and Kasey are.”

“Rule three: keep your belt buckle smaller than a dinner plate, unless you’ve won a national rodeo.”

“And finally, rule four: not every sentence has to end in ‘yee haa’.”

The charity encourages Australians to post a photo of their outfits with the hashtag #goodonyamate as a message of solidarity to farmers across the country.

CEO of Rural Aid John Warlters says the funds raised from the concert will go towards the charity’s new Stronger Futures program, dedicated to helping farmers develop strong and sustainable futures for their families and local communities.

“Drought, bushfire and flood are regular and devastating realities for Australian farmers. These challenges create financial, emotional and practical hurdles for this crucial sector of our community and economy; the people who put food on our tables and clothes on our back.”

“In addition, covid created new pressures for farmers. Domestic border closures impacted the supply chain for farmers, and international border closures impacted the workforce resulting in insufficient numbers of shearers and fruit pickers to handle farming responsibilities.”

“This concert will provide pivotal support to the farmers who feed our nation and the world,” Mr Warlters concluded.

To help Australians authentically dress like a farmer for the Good Onya Mate concert, Rural Aid has appointed The Ringer from Queensland to explain how it’s done. He held a press conference today on how to speak like a farmer.
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Official spokesperson, CEO John Warlters 0409618641
Unofficial spokesperson, The Ringer 0407652149
Media contact, Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935 media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au