Category: News

RURAL AID ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE CONCERT

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One of Australia’s largest rural charities, Rural Aid, is asking all Australians to get ready to host a “Good Onya Mate” gathering on 28 November as a message of solidarity to farmers across the country.

On this day, Nine will broadcast the Good Onya Mate fundraising concert – featuring a star-studded line up of local and international artists and heart-wrenching stories from farmers that Rural Aid has supported through drought, bushfire, food and COVID-19 this year.

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said that while Rural Aid can’t reveal the musicians and celebrities involved yet, Nine has promised a night of toe-tapping fun and stories of farmers who have benefited from Rural Aid’s assistance.

“The concert will raise funds to help farmers transition from emergency aid to recovery, to protect Australia’s food supply chain,” Mr Warlters said.

“Through all the difficulties 2020 threw at rural Australia, the farming sector has continued to ensure all Australian families have the range and quality of food we expect.”

The team at Rural Aid are encouraging families, friends and venues to host their own covid-safe socially-distanced celebrations during the concert.

“Whilst we can’t head to a crowded concert in 2020, we want Aussies to create their own covid-safe concert environment.”

“You could host a Good Onya Mate main street dinner in your rural town, a street or house party, or attend a pub or restaurant event if you’re in a city. And while you’re at it, why not get in the spirit and dress like a farmer.” – John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid.

To help Australians authentically dress like a farmer, Rural Aid has appointed The Ringer from Queensland to explain how it’s done. He held a press conference earlier today. 

https://youtu.be/d_oyflJstvE
The Ringer helps Australians prepare for the Good Onya Mate concert, 28 November 2020.

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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

RURAL AID’S OUR TOWNS MAKEOVER IS COMING TO ALPHA

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Plans finalised and an army of Rural Aid volunteers are on their way to makeover Alpha.

The tiny community of Alpha (pop. 350) in Queensland is ready for their town’s makeover, as Rural Aid Community volunteers head west next week.

CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the Alpha makeover is sponsored by Energy Queensland, who are part of the volunteer army. 

“Over the next five years, each of the ten Our Towns in our program receive $100,000 in projects and support to renew their town. This includes a community workshop on the town’s long-term future and sustainability, as well as the materials and trade expertise needed to do the makeover. These are sourced as locally as possible to support local businesses.”   

“Rural Aid members and community volunteers will be in Alpha next week to undertake a large number of works,” Mr Warlters explained.  

Settlers Park will have a new raised community garden and the sculpture of a bull will be elevated to be more visually prominent. At the east end of Shakespeare Street the park benches and planters will be painted, and a small shed will be erected to house life size chess pieces.

The golf club will have the exteriors refreshed and a new swing set will be installed. At two church grounds, some overdue pruning will happen. The pottery shed at the showgrounds will get new wall cladding, a new door and a lick of paint. And the museum will have all of its items catalogued. 

“These long-term renewal projects have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers in giving their time and expertise for such a great cause; as well as the remarkable Alpha community. Alpha’s community has worked hard, coming up with ideas and forming those ideas into a plan for their vision of their future.” 

“We can’t wait to see the results of the makeover,” Mr Warlters said.
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About Alpha, the gateway to the west

  • Alpha was named after an early property in the area which was taken up in 1863 and then became established as a service town for railway construction workers.
  • The region is famous for its petrified wood.
  • It’s known as the  ‘Town of Murals’ with 27 murals that have been painted by local resident artists and beautifully pay tribute to the pioneers of the bush and the history of the district.
  • Alpha’s history is on display at the Jane Neville Rolfe Art Gallery, the Tivoli Theatre Museum, the New Bridge, Beta Hut and Settlers Park.

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Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935 media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au
Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641  

NATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK: ISOLATION FOCUS

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Rural Aid invites primary producers to November webinar on loneliness

During National Psychology Week, one of Australia’s largest rural charities is inviting farmers and rural residents across the country to attend this month’s edition of the popular “On The Couch” webinar series.

Hosted each month by one of Rural Aid’s specialist counsellors, this month’s edition focuses on the topics of isolation, loneliness and being alone.

CEO of Rural Aid John Warlters says that the challenges of living a solo life are common in the agricultural sector and in rural communities. 

“There is a distinction between loneliness and being alone, and it’s important to note that many people choose isolation,” Mr Warlters said. 

“Solo living is common in our remote and rural communities, but loneliness needs to be managed. In next week’s webinar we’ll look at the ‘why’ and ‘when’ of loneliness and how to create the best of both worlds.”

Counsellor Gary Bentley will host the webinar which will be held at 6pm AEDT, 5pm AEST on 18 November. 

“There are times in our lives when we crave isolation; times when we want to remove ourselves from society; times when we want to close the door and keep the world at bay. “Me time” is important,’ Mr Bentley explained. 

“We can use “Me time” to reassess and regroup, recharge our emotional resources and refresh our spiritual strength. The problem is that isolation can become a prison of our own creation and can interfere with perspective altering the way we view our lives and the people around us.”

“The answer lies in balance: determining when isolation can tip over from self-protection to self-harm, when something that can be good for us becomes destructive.”

Any members of rural communities are welcome to attend. Attendance and comments made using the chat functionality of the webinar is strictly private and confidential.

Register here to attend the webinar: “Isolation, loneliness and being alone: The challenges of living a solo life.”
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Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935  | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au
Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641 


AIMING FOR MORE THAN 38,000 CARDS TO FARMERS

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Rural Aid on track to deliver record number of festive messages to farmers

Following an emotional response from farmers in previous years, Rural Aid is repeating its Christmas Cards 4 Farmers campaign in 2020 with an aim to distribute more than 38,000 cards.

The organisation is once again asking school children to help bring some much-needed cheer into the lives of our farmers by creating homemade cards.

CEO of Rural Aid, John Walters, said that in the lead up to Christmas over recent years, Rural Aid had asked school children to write letters and cards to farmers and the response was huge.

“We received 38,000 cards that year: some were written in crayon, others covered in glitter, but all of them had the same heartfelt messages from city kids to farmers and their families,” Mr Warlters said.

“Little did we know what impact these letters would have on the farmers reading them; coming from children they didn’t know, saying that they cared.”

“To say the response from the farmers was emotionally charged would be an understatement.”

Mr Warlters said the organisation is hoping to get even more cards in 2020, beating the record 38,000 handmade cards sent in 2019.

Over 700 schools and community groups participated last year, and nearly 200 volunteers were involved in mailing out Christmas cards and letters to almost 11,000 farmers and their families. (Note: Farmers received more than one card and letter.)The cards cannot be larger than 120mm x 170mm, though they can be folded down to this size, and should not be placed in an individual envelope. Instead, cards should be grouped together and placed in a bigger envelope before being mailed to Rural Aid – PO Box 1342, Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109.

Rural Aid explained that, in addition to the anguish caused by the COVID pandemic that has affected all Australians, farmers across the country have endured years of record-breaking droughts, devastating floods and catastrophic bushfires.

“After such a difficult year, we want to put a smile on the faces of Aussie farmers. Students can make this possible by getting their school involved in our Christmas Cards 4 Farmers initiative.”

Help Rural Aid continue this tradition by creating your homemade card and sending it in before November 19.

Rural Aid will have thousands of envelopes here ready to put your card in and send onto an Aussie farmer.

Visit: www.ruralaid.org.au/christmascards4farmers/
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Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935  | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au
Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641  

IT IS BRAVE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT

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Wisdom from a Rural Aid counsellor during Mental Health Month

During Mental Health Month (October), Rural Aid asked their rural counsellors to share what they want farmers to know about their mental health.

As Mental Health Month draws to a close, Rural Aid counsellor Jane McCollum says the one message she’d like primary producers to know is that it’s okay to admit it when the chips are down and you need some support.

“At any given time in anyone’s life we all need support in some way. Talk to a friend or family member you can trust and connect with a counsellor if you need to chat with someone outside your personal community. It is brave to say “I need some support” or even to reach out to someone who you can see may need your support,” Ms McCollum said.

Jane McCollum covers the Toowoomba Region, Southern Downs and parts of Western Downs in South East Queensland for Rural Aid. She says she does it because everyone deserves to be heard in hard times.

“I am a Rural Aid counsellor as I believe all humankind deserves to be supported and assisted in difficult times. Rural people are having a particularly difficult journey as they navigate through crucial issues such as drought, social changes, an increasing technological world that can often leave rural people feeling fearful and overwhelmed.”

“My job involves calling and visiting primary producers and offering support whether that be counselling or assisting with understanding forms and accessing financial support.”

“I also attend interagency meetings and network with various stakeholders who I believe can assist in facing the overall challenges we are seeing our primary producers face.”

Outside of helping farmers individually, Jane can be found at fodder deliveries, community events and recovery projects, helping towns and communities build stronger futures.

“We are constantly connecting with rural people. This role is incredibly diverse and covers many different aspects of assistance to rural people.”
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Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935  | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au
Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641 

About Rural Aid | Rural Aid is one of Australia’s largest rural charities. Well known for the highly successful ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign, the charity also provides financial assistance, water and counselling to farmers in times of drought, flood or fire. Other initiatives support its vision that farming and rural communities are safeguarded to ensure their sustainability both during and after these natural disasters. Visit www.ruralaid.org.au for further information on these programs and other support for our rural communities. Visit www.ruralaid.org.au/snapshots for Rural Aid’s latest assistance statistics.
Follow Rural Aid for updates on: FB: @ruralaidaustralia | @buyabaleofhay. IN: Rural Aid Ltd. TW: @ruralaidaust | @buyabale