Category: News

HOW TO RAISE RESILIENT KIDS IN THE BUSH

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Register for “On the Couch with Rural Aid Counsellors” webinar, Wednesday 15 July 2020 7pm AEST.

Register here.

One of Australia’s largest rural charities is hosting a webinar for country parents and grandparents this Wednesday night on the topic of raising resilient bush kids. 

The charity provides financial assistance, water, fodder and counselling to farmers in times of drought, flood or fire, and says children too need support during these challenging times. 

Rural Aid counsellor Zoe Cox will be running the webinar, which is anonymous for attendees who can ask questions privately and directly to the Rural Aid team, and she says that while there are distinct advantages to growing up in rural Australia, there are unique disadvantages too. 
 

“Country kids get exposure to a variety of experiences and through that they develop problem solving abilities in a resilience-boosting environment. They also tend to have a great sense of community and a bond with nature,” counsellor Zoe Cox explains.

“But bush kids are also subjected to additional adversity including financial hardship, environmental stressors and isolation. Droughts, floods, fires and economic shutdowns – like we’re experiencing today – impact bush kids, so it’s important we know how to create an environment where they can be emotionally resilient.” 

The webinar on Wednesday night will deal specifically with a child’s emotional resilience, meaning one’s ability to adapt to stressful situations, adversity or crisis.

“The old “toughen up, princess” approach is not the answer, nor is helicopter parenting,” she said.

Zoe says there are 10 key approaches parents and grandparents can employ to raise resilient kids. 

1. Make sure your child feels seen

2. Encourage strong relationships

3. Help them discover identity

4. Use strength-based parenting

5. Support autonomy and independence

6. Encourage flexible thinking 

7. Combat negative thinking

8. Foster self-control and delayed gratification

9. Reward effort over ‘smarts’

10. Minimise ‘screen time’, maximise outdoor play

Country parents are encouraged to register for the webinar where these topics and tactics will be discussed in detail.

ENDS

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. 

Register at www.ruralaid.org.au/towns/webinars/ to be part of the Community Builders Webinars Series and to access past episodes. 

Media: Lyndsey Douglas0424 203 935 | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au 

Spokesperson: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters | 0409 618 641 

Follow Rural Aid for updates on: 

Rural Aid – FB: @ruralaidaustralia | IG: @ruralaid |IN: Rural Aid Ltd | TW: @ruralaidaus
Buy A Bale – FB: @buyabaleofhay | IG: @buyabale | TW: @buyabale  

GAYNDAH QLD 10 TOWNS MAKEOVER POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 ADVICE

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Attribute statement to: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.

Following updated advice from heath authorities, Rural Aid announced that it will be postponing the 10 Towns Makeover at Gayndah Queensland, due to start on 22 March to 28 March.

The decision comes after government recommendations that all non-essential public gatherings of more than 500 people be cancelled in the interests of safety.

The safety of our Farm Army volunteers, Rural Aid staff and Board members, our stakeholders, community members and supporters remain paramount, and this will be the priority for us. A new date will be set for Gayndah’s makeover once health authorities advise it is safe to do so.

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:

Media: 0447 116 757 | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au

10 DROUGHT IMPACTED KILLARNEY FARMERS RECEIVE HAY FOR LIVESTOCK

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Rural Aid will deliver 128 large bales of hay on the back of three trailers to 10 drought affected Killarney Queensland farming families, on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

The Killarney hay drop, made possible thanks to the generosity of everyday Aussie donors, will assist local farming families struggling to feed livestock.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said this generous donation of 35.8 tonnes of hay will go a long way to help make life a little easier for the farmers and their families in this drought impacted area. 

“Our farmers are going through challenging times,” John said. “They’ve been impacted by one of the longest droughts in recent history, followed by fires that have devasted the land, people, livestock and homes. Now they are dealing with the impact of current restrictions. It may not be obvious to all but for many Queensland farmers, still in drought, the impact is very real.

“In some areas, rain has been welcomed but will only make a tangible difference short term. For others, a lack of rain has meant that restocking or planting a crop isn’t an option and, that stock feed is in short supply across winter months.

Located in the Southern Downs region, Killarney is about 160 kilometres south west Brisbane close to the NSW border. It was once known for its timber and dairy industries but is now a thriving mixed-farming area, impacted by drought.

“Transport continues to be an essential service during these current restrictions, by leveraging Rural Aid’s proven delivery model we are able to continue to support farmers to feed their livestock, thanks to the generosity of our donors,” John Warlters said.

“On 26 June, we delivered two trailers loaded with 84 bales of hay to three farmers at Carneys Creek just south of Boonah. A further three trailers loaded with 128 bales of hay will be delivered to eight farmers at Palen Creek on Thursday, 2 July.”

Assisting farmers and their communities

John Warlters also added that just like any other business through this COVID period, Rural Aid is pivoting and finding ways to navigate restrictions so the charity can deliver on the ground for farmers.  

“Obviously, under slightly reduced capacity but thanks to our drivers and operations team, we’re continuing to deliver for our farmers,” John Warlters said.  

“Week in week out, hay is on the agenda as we help farmers manage through drought and restock after bushfires and floods. 

“We are also recognising a greater need for our services than ever before and as we add international trade repercussions to the mix, we expect that need to grow. 

“We’ve also found unique ways to stay connected with farmers and rural communities through our counsellors – Gary Bentley’s column published fortnightly in regional and rural newspapers. 

“We are also continuing to support our farmers with financial assistance. 

“We are also supporting our farmers and rural communities through online mechanisms like the Community Builders Series webinars and our counselling service’s On the Couch webinars. 

“While uncertainty has been on the peripheral for many, so that our farmers know that they haven’t been forgotten during these times, Rural Aid has launched #DearFarmer letters. People can share a digital message of hope with a farmer at www.ruralaid.org.au/dearfarmer/.”

Impact of drought in Queensland

As at 1 May 2020, there are a total of 41 councils (including the Killarney area) and four-part council areas drought declared. These declarations represent 67.4% of the land area of Queensland. There are also 28 Individual Droughted Properties (IDPs) in a further 11 Local Government Areas¹.

Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology noted in May 2020 that rainfall was below average over the southwest, and southeast Queensland².

In the Events section of its Annual Climate Statement 2019, published on 9 January 2020, that, ‘The extensive and long-lived fires appear to be the largest in scale in the modern record in New South Wales, while the total area burnt appears to be the largest in a single recorded fire season for eastern Australia’³.

  • Warmest year on record for Australia – mean temperature 1.52 °C above average
  • Much of Australia affected by drought, which was especially severe in New South Wales and southern Queensland
  • 2019 was amongst top ten warmest for Queensland
  • Annual total rainfall 40% below average with much of Australia affected by drought

¹Sourced from the Queensland Government Longpaddock

²Sourced from Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) May 2020 Queensland

³Sourced from Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Annual Climate Statement 2019

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:

RURAL AID AND EVOLUTION MINING BRINGING THE JOY OF MUSIC TO GAYNDAH SCHOOLS

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Sounds of music and excited children will ring out from Gayndah schools this week

Rural Aid is delighted to announce the Community Support team is delivering musical instruments to Burnett State College and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Gayndah, tomorrow.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said Burnett State College and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School are part of a generous $120,000 donation of musical instruments from Evolution Mining to eight schools around their Mt Rowden and Cracow mining operations.

“I would like to thank Evolution Mining for their generous donation, which is part of a $1.5 million donation to help support Aussie farmers with disaster assistance and their communities,” John Warlters said.

“In the past, we’ve been well known for our disaster assistance program: providing hay, drinking water, financial and counselling assistance to farmers, rural and regional communities. Building sustainable, stronger futures for primary producers and rural communities underpins everything we do.”

“We’re pleased to announce a new remit for community focused support, including schools. All community initiatives, from July 2020, will fall under the auspice of Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures Program.

“Schools are a key element of all rural communities and we will continue supporting them as part of our focus on community sustainability. This was evidenced recently with our ‘technology’ for schools initiative to assist rural schools with at-home-learning.

“We’ve had some challenges thrown our way with Covid-19 in having to place Rural Aid’s ‘Our Town’ and Farm Rescue Programs in hibernation. And, our volunteers are readying themselves for the recommencement of community support activities.

“I’m please to say we’ve been working in the background to deliver fodder and drinking water during Covid-19 and planning for when schools return and, our workforce can make their way safely back out in the field.

“We’re helping schools prepare for the commencement of Term 3 music programs with deliveries underway this week.

“Our thanks go to Rural Aid sponsor, Evolution Mining, a large employer of local communities backing local communities. They have made this and many other opportunities possible for farmers and rural and regional communities,” John Warlters said.

Other schools also receiving musical instruments in the Gayndah region, thanks to Evolution Mining’s generosity, are listed below.

Some of the schools receiving musical instruments:

Date Time School
Tuesday 23 June 2020 8.30am Coalstoun Lakes State School
Tuesday 23 June 2020 10.30am St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Tuesday 23 June 2020 1.00pm Burnett State College
Tuesday 23 June 2020 2.00pm Gayndah State School
Wednesday 24 June 2020 10.00am Eidsvold State School 
Wednesday 24 June 2020 11.15am Mundubbera State School
Wednesday 24 June 2020 12.15pm Boynewood State School

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.

Media: 0447 116 757 | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au

Spokesperson: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters | 0409 618 641

Follow Rural Aid for updates on:

OUR FARMERS CONTINUE TO PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLES

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Thanks to you, we’re able to return the favour

Aussie farmers are at the heart of everything we do. True to their tenacious spirit, our farmers have continued to work hard to put food on our tables despite everything that has been thrown at them.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said after a tough start to the year, our farmers need our help to rebuild, having dealt with bushfires, flood, drought and now COVID-19. 

“This end of financial year, we are asking for your support so we can help our farmers well into the future,” John said.

“In some areas, rain has been welcomed but will only make a tangible difference short term. For others, a lack of rain has meant that restocking or planting a crop isn’t an option. Many are also experiencing the cascading impacts of bushfires, and in some areas, floods.

“We’re asking for your support so, we can continue to give Aussie farmers a hand by providing counselling, hay, drinking water and financial assistance. Help us work towards rebuilding, restocking and reminding our farmers they’re not alone.

“If you’re able, make a tax-deductible donation to help farmers and rural communities get back on their feet. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and every dollar counts!

“If you’re not in a position to donate, then consider writing a digital Dear Farmer letter to give a shout out to our farmers or, if you know of a farmer in need, send them our way and we’ll do our best to help.

“Help us to support farming and rural families.”

Last week, Rural Aid launched the EOFY campaign to get the message out – that the charity needs your help to support Australian farmers who have been doing it pretty tough for a while now.

“Current restrictions have placed many affected by the bushfires in an awkward place, of not receiving as much help as they may have in the past,” John said. “However, we’ve continued to be busy, in the background, helping with domestic water tanks, hay deliveries, counselling and financial assistance.

“We know there are a lot of people doing it tough and as we come out of COVID and restrictions are eased, we’re asking for your support to continue doing what we do.

“It’s the foresight of our donors – large and small – last year that has afforded us the ability to assist and held us in good stead this year. With your support, we can look forward to helping Australian farmers now and well into the future.”

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.

Go to:

Visit www.ruralaid.org.au/snapshots for Rural Aid’s latest assistance statistics.

Media: 0447 116 757 | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au

Spokesperson: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters | 0409 618 641

Follow Rural Aid for updates on: