Rural Aid hay donation fundraising campaign ‘Buy a Bale of Hay’ has opened registrations in South Australia for drought affected farmers to receive assistance.

The national fundraising campaign leverages donations from families and businesses across the country, including those in cities with no experience of the drought.

After pressure from Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey, the campaign began delivering bales of hay to South Australian farmers over the past few weeks.

A delivery is set to reach Cowell in the next two weeks.

Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said it was important for farmers who need help feeding livestock to register with the fundraiser as soon as possible.

“Don’t be too proud to ask for help and don’t be too late,” he said.

Mr Thomson said many farmers the fundraiser had worked with in the Eastern states were in dire situations when they reached out, and should have asked as much as six months earlier.

The focus of ‘Buy a Bale of Hay’ has been mainly on New South Wales, because the state has been 100% drought declared.

Mr Thomson, who is based in Queensland, said the fundraiser used drought declarations as a “trigger” for sending help.

With SA no longer using drought declarations, assessing the situation from afar has been complicated.

A benefit of the varying conditions within South Australia is that the hay will not be travelling far.

Farmers on the Eyre Peninsula will be both donors and recipients of the ‘Buy a Bale of Hay’ program, with some of the South Australian hay so far coming from from Lock.

However Mr Thomson said the organisation was reliant on the generosity of monetary donors to cover freight costs, and encouraged the whole state to help out.

He said the movement was about connecting the city with the bush, which in other states had lead to some heartwarming stories of “Aussies helping Aussies.”

Source: Eyre Peninsula Tribune

Embracing the ‘farm’ theme, the students dressed in costumes and contributed a gold coin donation to help raise funds for Rural Aid, to purchase large rolls of hay for Australian farmers affected by drought.

The school’s Nichelle Dodd said children also donated extra money for a sausage sizzle, adding to the impressive final total.

“We are proud to announce that Cowaramup Primary School students raised $1,500 which is enough money to purchase 150 rolls of hay for our farmers in need,” she said.

“Huge thanks to Margaret River Woolworths for their donation of sausages, buns and sauce, and to Riverfresh IGA for their donation of sausages.

“These kind donations mean that 100 per cent of the money raised will go directly to the farmers.”

Source: AUGUSTA-MARGARET RIVER MAIL

The message relayed to the Port Stephens community from our drought stricken farmers was as stark as it was poignant: “Please don’t forget about us.”

It was delivered by Rural Aid representatives Wayne and Robyn Thomson during the handover last Thursday of a cheque for $44,300, proceeds from a Buy a Bale fundraising weekend conducted by sporting and social clubs on the Tomaree peninsula.

“NSW is 100 per cent in drought and our farmers are still doing it very tough, many are working seven days a week, 12-14 hours a day, in what is being described as the worst drought on record,” Mr Thomson told the gathering.

“To put it in perspective, one year ago we were delivering one roadtrain (approximately 70 tonne) of hay a fortnight, now we are delivering 30 roadtrains a week.

“And each day we hear of the dreadful conditions, the misery these proud farmers are dealing with.

“Stories of 7-year-old children who have never seen rain, parents who can’t remember the last time they purchased fresh food from a store, families bathing in buckets of stinking bore water, kids counting the dead sheep on their farm before going off to school.

“Stories of families who haven’t had cause to turn on their fridge in months, eating from tins of food, farmers selling live stock for peanuts, the list goes on.”

Mr Thomson said every cent raised through the Buy a Bale project goes to families to purchase hay for stock, food, water and fuel.

“Of course farmers are very proud people and reluctant to ask for help, which is causing its own problems … quite often they come to us four months too late when they are in dire need.

“There are also the mental health issues. How do you plan for a seven-year continuous drought?”

Mr Thomson said the recent rains had very little impact on the vast majority of farmers. “The shoots of grass get eaten very quickly by cattle or sheep that are not too weak to move.”

There was some bright news on the horizon, said Mr Thomson. “Victorian hay stocks are on their way to NSW and Queensland to replace the current crop coming from Western Australia and South Australia.”

The Bay’s weekend of fundraising organiser Vicki Page, from Fingal Sports Club, said it was a sobering thought to get a first hand account of the real life effect the drought is having on farmers.

“The weekend showed what this community can do when the various clubs get together to support those in need, but obviously there is more to be done,” she said.

During the weekend of September 8-9 the Port’s three major golf clubs – Nelson Bay, Pacific Dunes and Horizons – attracted around 200 golfers and raised in excess of $15,000.

Bowlers were equally generous with their time and money, with hundreds turning out for events at Soldiers Point, Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay raising another $15,000, while Anna Bay Tavern held a two-day event which attracted visitors from across the state.

A Moonshadow cruise raised in excess of $1200 while Port Stephens councillors approved a $1000 donation to be made to the relief charity fund at its August 28 meeting.

Club representatives who participated included Bob Westbury (Horizons), Vicki Page and Dean Noble (Fingal Sports), Nicole Blue (Nelson Bay Bowls), Trevor Harrison (Nelson Bay Golf), Kurt Linda (Pacific Dunes) and Simon Lack (Soldiers Point Bowls).

To donate to the Buy a Bale project go to buyabale.com.au.

Source: Port Stephen Examiner