Rural Aid hay rolls into town

Posted on 3 May 201931 October 2023

A convoy of Rural Aid trucks pulled into the city yesterday to deliver much-needed hay to drought-stricken graziers.

The hay drop followed similar ones in Scotia and Tibooburra over the last several months, with a total of 1000 large bales of hay delivered.

The money for the fodder came from Australia Post selling “Drought Relief Stamps” and more than $200,000 was raised. 

Australia Post’s Executive General Manager of Community and Consumer, Nicole Sheffield, said many people around the country had wanted to help. 

“Last year we listened to the community a lot and everybody was saying, ‘how do we help our farmers and make a difference?’” she said.

“Partnering with Rural Aid was something that came so naturally, not just to the community and Australia Post, but for everybody, so we launched the Drought Relief Stamp, which for every $5 (stamp pack) $2 went towards bays of hay.

“I know this hay is only a tiny relief, but if it gives our farmers some relief then we feel very privileged to have done that. 

“We know that they’re doing it tough, so this hay drop is just one way that we’re trying to make it a little bit easier for them.”

Rural Aid General Manager, Wayne Thomson, said yesterday’s delivery helped show that people really do care about farmers in drought.

“It’s days like today that make it a little bit easier to get through,” he said.

“One of the messages that we want to get across from days like today is that people like Australia Post and all those involved care.

“They care about what happens to farmers and their lives and that’s so important.

“The hay is too, we need the animals to be fed, but it’s knowing that someone’s standing by you through this drought.

“We’ll continue to deliver hay until everybody in the region has got some.

“It’s about a million dollars’ worth so it’s a big investment, but we want to be able to make sure that the whole region is being supported.”

Mayor Darriea Turley thanked Rural Aid and Australia Post for the hay and said actions like this helped provide a little bit of hope. 

“I talk to farmers every day and I’ve been out across the whole Far West, and they’re doing it tough,” said Mayor Turley. 

“I don’t think anybody can understand until you talk to them and go out and help them feed.

“When you go out and do that, they talk to you about the day-to-day issues of how they’re going to keep the farm going which they inherited form their grandparents, or how they’re going to look after their kids and the expectations of that.

“But more importantly, you can see the mental health issues that they’re struggling with.

“Australia Post is delivering a little bit of hope for every farmer that gets a bale of hay and we’re very welcoming of that.”

The article’s credit is for the source: Barrier Daily Truth

Locals enjoy a night of entertainment under the stars thanks to Rural Aid

Posted on 1 May 201931 October 2023

PICNIC rugs under the stars, food and live music made for a perfect night in Scone on Saturday.

Charity Rural Aid hosted a free Twilight Family Fun Night at Elizabeth Park giving the local community the chance to kick back and relax for an evening.

More than 13 market stalls took over the popular pit-stop on the New England Highway.

Rural Aid event coordinator Victoria Edwards said the night wasn’t a fundraiser but simply a way to bring extra funds into the rural community.

“It’s great for the local area,” she said.

Rising Australian country star Casey Barnes jammed out into the night, supported by up-and-coming artist Josiah Bekker, the Rebecca Johnson Trio and Brooke Supple.

There were also Rural Aid volunteers on hand to provide information about their Buy A Bale program and assistance available for farmers.

However, it won’t be the only event the charity holds in the Upper Hunter in the coming weeks.

From May 5 to 11, Rural Aid will bring over 70 ‘Farm Army’ volunteers from across Australia to Murrurundi as a part of their ‘Farm Rescue’ project.

The community is set to benefit from the teams working and financing projects around the town and on farm properties.

The ‘Farm Army’ will be camping at the Murrurundi Rosedale Complex and Rural Aid will contribute to the local charities and groups that will cater for the volunteers.

Ten members of the Australian Army Band Sydney will also be performing at many schools in the area.

Rural Aid will donate musical instruments, lego, and school supplies as part of their Gift of Music program to Blandford, Murrurundi, Quirindi, Willow Tree and Wallabadah schools.

There will be an opportunity for community members to hear the awesome Army Band rock the White Hart Hotel on Monday evening, May 6, and meet the ‘Farm Army’.

The week culminates with a ‘Thank You’ dinner on Friday May 10 at the Rosedale Horse Complex.

Source: Scone Advocate

Australia Post backs Rural Aid to help drought affected communities

Posted on 30 April 201931 October 2023

Australia Post continues to help drought affected communities, with a six-trailer convoy arriving in Broken Hill this morning to deliver much needed hay to farmers.

The Rural Aid convoy left South Australia on 30 April and is part of a team that over eight weeks has been delivering hay to Scotia, south of Broken Hill, and Tibooburra to the north.

The series of hay drops has been made possible through the sales of Australia Post’s Drought Relief Stamp packs across the country.

Every $5 stamp pack sold triggered a $2 donation by Australia Post to Rural Aid, amounting to more than $200,000 for farmers – and approximately 1,000 large bales of hay.

Nicole Sheffield, Executive General Manager of Community and Consumer, was on hand to greet the convoy in Broken Hill and said Australia Post is proud to be able to help.

“Australia Post is a critical part of the Australian community with a large presence in rural and regional Australia and a long history of supporting the Australian community at times of crisis,” she said.

“We know farmers are doing it tough, and this hay drop is but one way that we’re trying to making it just that little bit easier for them.”

Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said the hay drop provided more than just help around the farm.

“It’s also the mental impact and the reinforcement that someone cares – they give a damn,” Mr Thomson said.

“Australia Post have a long-standing presence in these communities, and their commitment to helping those same communities when they’re in need should be commended,” he said.

In addition to the hay drop, brought about by the Drought Relief Stamp Pack, Australia Post’s approach to the current drought across Australia has been to mobilise and connect the community to relief and recovery efforts through the following activities:

• Accepted over the counter donations for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and
• Recovery Appeal in Post Offices across the country
• Matched employee drought relief donations to organisations through our Workplace Giving platform
• Donated $100,000 to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for recovery and support
• Partnering with ReachOut to help improve youth mental health and resilience

For further information:
National Media Line: 03 9106 6666
Newsroom: Newsroom.auspost.com.au

Charity Rural Aid to host free Twilight Family Fun Night at Elizabeth Park, Scone, this Saturday

Posted on 24 April 201931 October 2023

CHARITY Rural Aid is gearing up to host an evening of free live music, entertainment and twilight markets in Scone.

The Twilight Family Fun Night, this Saturday April 27 at Elizabeth Park, is a first for the charity and it’s all to aid the rural community.

Rural Aid event coordinator Victoria Edwards said they know the Upper Hunter has really struggled through the drought and this is their way of giving back. 

“We’ve had quite a few hay deliveries down there and we’re doing a bike ride later on in the year in September,” she said. 

“But we knew that September was a while away so we wanted to do something for the community.

“We decided to put on a family fun night where we have small businesses involved through market stalls. That way they would have another avenue to be able to create some income for themselves.”

One of the main aspects of the evening will be the free live music featuring rising Australian country star Casey Barnes as the headline act.

Casey will be supported by up-and-coming artist Josiah Bekker, the Rebecca Johnson Trio, and Brooke Supple. 

 AUSSIE ARTIST: Brooke Supple has been a vocalist and guitarist for international acts such as Sinead OConnor and The Corrs. Photo: Supplied

“Having Casey perform for us is definitely something that’s close to his heart, being a country artist you perform at a lot of country areas, so you meet a lot of people that are doing it tough,” Ms Edwards said.

“When I spoke to him about coming on board he was really excited to be a part of that.

“He’s actually just got back from Texas touring around with the PBR, so he’s made it back in time for our show which is great.”

The night will also include jumping castles, activities for the kids, lots of giveaways and lucky dips – all at no charge.

“The main goal of the event is to give farmers and the local community the opportunity to come out and have lots of fun with their families,” Ms Edwards added.

With more than 13 market stalls signed up there will be plenty of options on offer.

“It’s great for the local area,” she said. “We’re excited about it. It’s going to look wonderful and sound wonderful.

“When we put on events like this with Rural Aid, it’s not so much about the fundraising its about bringing funds into the towns that are suffering because of the drought.”

The free event runs from 4pm to 9.30pm on Saturday April 27 at Elizabeth Park, Scone.

Source: The Scone Advocate

Forced to sell milking herd

Posted on 5 April 201931 October 2023

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Neil Parker is the fourth generation of his family to dairy farm.

And he will probably be the last. It is all he has known and all he has ever done.

But he has had enough, he is tired and he is drained.

‘‘I am over it. I have put my life into dairy farming but I can’t keep borrowing money to stay in — this industry just has problem after problem,’’ Mr Parker said.

Mr Parker and his wife Sarah originally farmed at Rochester but moved to their current 110ha property at Kyabram after their irrigation system was shut down.

‘‘We moved to the Goulburn system for water security but that certainly hasn’t eventuated,’’ he said.

The farm has a small allocation but relies on the temporary water market for most of its irrigation requirements.

Mr Parker spent $100000 laser grading half of his farm to improve water efficiency and has only been able to irrigate it once.

Last spring he watched all his cereal crops die because the high cost of temporary water made it too expensive to purchase.

In a normal season he would use about 500Ml — this season, that amount would have cost him $250000.

And he can’t afford the $50000 he needs to buy 100Ml of water to start up this autumn.

He has spoken to a stock agent and is hoping to sell his 200 milkers in what has now become a familiar story across the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District.

‘‘My field officer came out and said ‘I have worked out a way for you to feed the cows through to March’.

‘‘We are already in the can $50000 this year in outstanding bills and we just can’t keep borrowing money to ride it out,’’ Mr Parker said.

‘‘I am tired, and I am over it.’’

Mr Parker said being unable to export heifers due to the blue tongue ban had also hit his business hard.

‘‘Two years ago we were able to export some heifers which went a fair way toward helping us get through, but that is not as easy as it once was.’’

While things have been tough, a recent visit by Rural Aid to the farm has given the family a much-needed reason to smile.

‘‘Rural Aid has come on board and we have had six people here doing a bit of work for us. They rang a month ago and I ummed and ahhed because I didn’t think I was worthy enough of the cause — but they have been great,’’ he said.

Mr Parker has been able to get his tractor and motorbike serviced by some visiting mechanics from Honda, a much-needed fence is to be built around the dam and a plumber has put some new spouting on the house and installed a new watering system in the veggie garden.

‘‘The dam was high on our list of priorities because we have young kids. My post-hole digger didn’t work and I have even been able to get that fixed. We had a couple of ladies get our veggie garden back up and running, which has been great for Sarah too.

‘‘There have been some great friendships developed and when you sit around the table you soon learn everyone has their own problems to deal with.’’

The visit also bought with it a much needed delivery of hay for not just the Parkers’ herd but some other farming families in the district.

‘‘I can feed out five or six rolls a day — and at $100 a roll it certainly helps,’’ Mr Parker said.

Rural Aid general manager Wayne Thomson said things in the bush were getting worse.

‘‘Things are certainly not great and we just want to let people know that there is somebody out there who cares about them. The mental health of our farmers is very important but we thought a community approach would help impact a lot more people,’’ Mr Thomson said.

From a community perspective Rural Aid helped to repaint the town hall and fence Kyabram Fauna Park.

It also delivered musical instruments and school supplies to Kyabram P-12 College and St Augustine’s College.

‘‘The music teacher was crying her heart out,’’ Mr Thomson said.

He said the group had driven down from Queensland and much of the country was still in crisis.

‘‘Things are just getting tougher and tougher and there seems to be no relief in sight.’’

Source: Country News