Ten country towns impacted by drought to be selected

As the worst drought in history continues to take its toll, Rural Aid is launching a campaign aimed at providing 10 country towns impacted by drought, with a makeover.

Established within Rural Aid’s ongoing Sustainable Community program, the 10 country towns will receive a minimum of $100,000 each over five years.

Working with town leaders, the money will be spent developing plans, through facilitated workshops, to support the long-term sustainability of the town and local community.  Rural Aid will partner with experts in rural/regional town renewal who will work with town leaders to develop the long-term renewal strategy.

Rural Aid’s Farm Army of volunteers (usually between 50 – 100) will also spend a week in the town undertaking a range of infrastructure projects which town leaders identify as important to the town and community.

Small country towns play a critical role in supporting the social and economic fabric of their local communities.

They have unique symbiotic relationships with the farms located around them. Farmers rely on their local town for off farm income through employment, farm employees and services from the local doctor, teachers, dentists, accountants and government support staff. Then there’s the small businesses like the local pharmacy, grocery, butcher, bakery, bank and rural supply company.

“Rural Aid believes in community,” CEO of Rural Aid, Charles Alder said. “Unfortunately, small town decline is real with some suggesting over 70 percent are at risk. Take these towns out of the equation and the local ecosystem is impacted forever. There are enough case studies of rural towns that have reversed the trend and created successful thriving communities to know that anything’s possible!”

“Our community program lifts morale and injects much needed capital into the local community,” Mr Alder said.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that since 2012, many parts of rural Australia have lost thousands of people due to the decline in the agricultural and mining sectors.

Nominations close on 30 September 2019.

The selection process will include an evaluation and assessment of the towns vision and leadership capability.

For more information go to:https://www.ruralaid.org.au/nominate/

If your town needs a boost then nominate your town today.

About Rural Aid

Rural Aid supports farmers and rural communities in times of natural disaster such as flood, fire and drought. In addition, Rural Aid focusses on supporting the sustainability of regional and farming communities. Its disaster relief program includes the nationally recognised Buy a Bale campaign. Other programs include providing volunteer support to rural towns, musical instruments to regional schools and mental health counselling. Visit www.ruralaid.org.au for further information on these programs and other support for our rural communities.

Media enquiries: Raylee Huggett – 0477 116 757

IN times of drought sometimes all you need is a little pick-me-up to put a smile back on the face.

Thanks to the unending generosity of Rural Aid, students at Stanthorpe State Primary School got just that.

It was like Christmas morning on Friday as music students unpacked and pieced together some shiny new presents.

“We just want these kids to have a bit of a break. It’s sometimes a tough life when living through drought,” Rural Aid general manager Wayne Thomson said.

“Music is a beautiful thing and to be able to have that bit of fun and opportunity to play can make a difference.”

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It was like Christmas morning for Stanthorpe State Primary School students and teachers when Rural Aid paid a visit on Friday.Photo: Matthew Purcell.

Through their Gift of Music initiative, Mr Thomson and his Rural Aid crew donated close to $10,000 worth of instruments, plus Lego and Ipads, to the school last Friday. It was one of four similar trips they did that day around the region.

“We just saw the need. We thought ‘Well mum and dad we’re helping with fuel and fodder and food – but what about the kids?’

They’ve donated to more than 100 schools across Queensland since starting the scheme nearly two years ago.

“To get this many new instruments at once – the school couldn’t possibly afford it,” SSPS’s instrumental music teacher, Bruce Eddiehausen said.

“The fact we’ve got brand new instruments… the kids’ progress will be so much better.

“Your program needs a bit of momentum, a bit of excitement. These kids are going to come in next week and be wanting to learn.

“What these people (Rural Aid) do is amazing,” he said.

The article’s credit is for the source : Stanthrope Border Post

Our drought-stricken farmers, and our food bowl, need us now more than ever.

The paddocks across most of the state still resemble a desert. Water resources are dry or drying up and a lot of farming families are struggling to pay the bills and put food on their tables.ADVERTISING

Photos of once fertile farms keep flowing into The Mercury, and let’s be honest, it’s beyond heartbreaking.

This time last year there was a groundswell of support for farmers and many fundraisers were being held in Maitland and across the Hunter. Drought charities are now reporting a fall in donations and public awareness.

None of the city’s pubs and clubs have registered to take part in this month’s Parma for a Farmer – a fundraiser where a dollar, or a few, is collected from every chicken parmigiana sold and donated to Rural Aid’s Buy A Bale campaign.

Chameleon Play Cafe in Cessnock is the only business in the Lower Hunter that has pledged its support. There are also two others in the Upper Hunter.

Rural Aid CEO Charles Alder said the conditions livestock farmers were facing were so intense that the charity would need to spend about $22 million on hay and transport between now and June next year. 

With no rain on the horizon – and a hot summer predicted, the conditions are expected to deteriorate further in the coming months. 

“Across vast areas of NSW 12 months on our farmers are no better off – there is still a shortage of fodder, a lack of water and we need to help them again,” Mr Alder said.

“If you can share a dollar or two from every chicken parmigiana sold we can buy more hay and truck more hay to farmers who are in need, including in the Hunter.”

Businesses can register for free online. Go to www.parmaforafarmer.com.au

 Rural Aid counsellors have moved into their second year of tackling mental health issues at the farm gate.

Demand for the specialist service continues to increase as the drought persists, according to Rural Aid Counsellor Gary Bentley, who’s been helping drought stricken communities across the Central West.

In the financial year just ended counsellors working for the farm-focused charity tallied close to 2000 phone counselling sessions and a little under 400 face-to-face sessions.

Rural Aid counsellor Gary Bentley said the service was being expanded.

“The psychological damage of the worst drought since records began in Australia is difficult to quantify,” Mr Bentley said.

“But we do know that the rural suicide rate has increased and depression levels in the farming community are at an all-time high.

“We are committed to the principle of meeting farmers at their place of need in their time of need.”

Mr Bentley said desperation, loneliness and overwhelming sadness were driving factors when it came to farmers seeking help.

“Farmers are resilient people. As a community they are accustomed to resolving their own problems. But this drought has drained physical and mental resources.

“Rural Aid offers a message of hope…hope in cash, kind and care.

“During the last financial year we provided more than $30.5 million in drought assistance to farmers and rural communities across NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.”

The counselling team is there to help farmers better understand their situation, Mr Bentley said.

“We’re there not only to listen but to hear and to suggest strategies and help guide farmers through their mental anguish.

“Stressed and troubled people don’t always make the best decisions if left to themselves.

“We want to do whatever we can to ensure the survival of our farms, our farmers and their families.”

For the first 40 years of his working life Mr Bentley was a journalist working with newspapers, radio and television.

“I was raised in a Central Western NSW town and spent many years working in rural communities.

That has given me insight and understanding when it comes to the problems facing our farmers.

“I believe my life experience equipped me well for my role as a Counsellor.”

The article’s credit is for the source: Wellington Times