COUNTRY music fans have laid their denim pockets bare at the 2019 Toyota Country Music Festival.
The event, which ran over 10 days and featured 700 artists and more than 2800 events, took place in Tamworth, NSW, with festival goers donating a total of $32,465 for Rural Aid. The charity, founded in 2015, raises money to support drought-affected farmers doing it tough across Australia.
“We spent the 10 days of the festival listening to stories of those who have been struggling through this drought,” Rural Aid CEO, Charles Alder, said. “The support that we’ve had from Toyota Australia and those attending the festival goes a long way to help out.”
Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Wayne Gabriel, was also heart-warmed by the generosity of the Akubra-wearing public.
“The drought is affecting many Australians, so it’s great to see festival-goers dig deep to help out,” he said. “We have a long history of supporting rural and regional communities in Australia, and we’re looking forward to partnering with Rural Aid again for the 2020 Toyota Country Music Festival.”
If you don’t snare the top prize, there are a few decent runner-up prizes (if you’re into sport, that is): meet cricket legend Glenn McGrath, a trip for two to the 2019 AFL Grand Final, a cricket bat signed by the 2018 Australian cricket team, and a football signed by players selected in the All-Australian team.
HELP IS HERE: Registered Counsellor Zoe Cox has already helped 350 people in the Central West since her appointment by Rural Aid. Photo: SUPPLIED 021119zoe1
HEARTACHE, tears and more than just a few cuppas have featured during the first five months of Rural Aid counsellor Zoe Cox’s work in helping farmers across the Central West.
Despite good recent rainfall, the entire region is still in drought and farmers are facing ongoing failing crops and starving stock.
Ms Cox is a registered counsellor and her role includes: support via phone, farm visits, hay drops, as well as financial support, counselling, and helping farmers access government subsidies and vouchers.
“It’s turned out to be even more satisfying than I thought because I have seen it making a difference,” she said of her appointment to the role.
Ms Cox said some farmers have only needed help filling in a form for government subsidies, others she has helped have been contemplating suicide.
There is reason to go on and they can lean on us and can rely on us to get them through.Rural Aid counsellor Zoe Cox
“There is reason to go on and they can lean on us and can rely on us to get them through,” she said.
Ms Cox said the long-running drought had created a dire situation for many people.
“It’s enduring, it’s not necessarily worse or better because [these days], they’re getting used to the situation,” she said.
HERE TO HELP: Rural Aid counsellor Zoe Cox with Mitchell, 4, Emily, 15, and Brodie, 13, Gartner from Bogan Gate. She has been providing support to the Gartner family for a period of time. Photo: SUPPLIED 021119zoe3
“The hardest part is the unknown and the weather.”
Since she started in September Ms Cox has assisted 350 farmers across her region which includes: Lithgow, Mudgee, Gulgong, Orange, Bathurst, Oberon, Blayney, Parkes, Forbes and Cowra.
Farmers can self-register with Rural Aid for support or the public can nominate someone who they think needs assistance.
“Some of the nominated farmers are a little shy to ask for help,” Ms Cox said.
“We’re talking about some of the most resilient people in the country.”
We’re talking about some of the most resilient people in the country.Rural Aid counsellor Zoe Cox
Often the help Ms Cox provides can start with a phone call or a cuppa at the farmer’s property and this helps her determine what situation the family is in and what help they might need.
“There’s no pressure, it’s a check in and if it doesn’t sit well it’s up to them,” she said.
Ms Cox is from a farming family herself and grew up on a beef cattle property in the Kanimbla Valley east of Bathurst.
“I’ve always had a passion for the land,” she said.
Ms Cox urged farmers not to feel helpless or not entitled and to seek out support where needed.
“If you know anyone in that situation, please encourage them to apply or nominate them,” she said.
“I’m really busy so if you’re a farmer who I haven’t got to yet please don’t hesitate to call me on 0428 445 831.”
DRY TIMES: The widespread drought across the Central West and NSW. Image: NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Rural counsellor is thanks to the community’s support
The fact a dedicated rural counsellor even exists in the Central West at all is due to the generosity of the community in supporting its farmers.
Fodder drops for flood-stricken producers kicked off outside of Winton on Sunday morning.
Rural Aid spokesman Richard Forbes said trucks had carted 160 bales of hay to various collection points outside of the town such as Corfield and Olio, from which helicopters would start lifting the bales on to properties.
Fodder drops begin outside of Winton on Sunday morning. PHOTO: Rural Aid.
The Winton Shire Council has been working with AgForce to organise and coordinate deliveries to producers in the region.
On Sunday morning AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin said 140 Queensland locations had been identified for fodder drops, with about 112,000 head of stock in need.
Four road trains carrying an additional 350 bales of Rural Aid hay were also heading to Cloncurry, Mr Forbes said.
Fodder drops out of Hughenden would also be continuing until fodder was no longer needed, Flinders Shire Council Mayor Jane McNamara said on Saturday evening.
“The hay has been secured locally. They’ll just keep dropping it until it’s no longer needed.”
There’ll be fodder drops in flood-stricken north-west Queensland today, as relief efforts in the region crank up.
It’s estimated up to 300,000 head of cattle have perished in floodwaters, while herds are stranded and facing possible starvation.
Rural aid CEO Charles Alder says helicopters will distribute 1,500 hay bales.
“The trucks will drive to designated drop points where a fleet of helicopters – both military and private choppers – will then fly into those drop points, and then fly the hay into the paddocks and on to the properties,” says Mr Alder.
He says farmers are desperate to feed their livestock.
“This fodder is critical to at least allowing the remaining animals to try [to] get something into their stomachs,” says Mr Alder. “They’ve had to deal with drought for the last six or seven years and now floodwaters and cold wind off the waters, which is really what’s killed a lot of [the animals].”
Interstate road trains carrying hay continue to arrive in north-west Queensland as aviation fuel supplies flown in by the military give a glimmer of hope to flood-affected farmers.
However, the promised bulk military airdrop of fodder for the surviving cattle has been put on the backburner, nearly a week after it was promised by various levels of government.
Up to 50 road trains are heading to north-west Queensland with fodder to help struggling farmers. Most are coming from South Australia and have been organised by Rural Aid.CREDIT:BUY A BALE OF HAY – FACEBOOK
Rural Aid chief executive Charles Alder said the hay trucks had arrived throughout the weekend and would continue to reach the likes of Winton, Cloncurry and Longreach this week.Advertisement
The 50 road trains are carrying $350,000 worth of hay and the cost of their fuel is worth the same amount again, but have been funded by donations to the Buy a Bale campaign.
“The challenge for these farmers is during the seven years of drought, they have been feeding and keeping their cattle alive, and then in the space of 72 to 96 hours hundreds of millions of dollars of cattle drowned and were washed away,” Mr Alder said.
“South Australia is the predominant supplier of hay to Australia, with New South Wales and Queensland in drought and there being not much hay around.
“The majority of the trucks coming up from South Australia, unloading and then picking up more from within Queensland.
“We are working with councils to distribute hay to the best points for helicopters to then get the hay and fly off to distribute it.”
Farmers in the state’s north-west have faced scenes of devastation as the flooding subsides.CREDIT:RAE STRETTON/FACEBOOK
Mr Alder said the Australian Defence Force decided last week to drop the idea of flying in bulk batches of hay and it was far easier to use road trains.
The office of Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Linda Reynolds, responsible for the federal response to the floods, confirmed the military’s focus was taking aviation fuel into affected areas.
A spokeswoman for Senator Reynolds said many areas had nearly run out of fuel for helicopters and some farmers did have fodder, but could not get to it without fuel for their helicopters.
“The Australian government is in close contact with Queensland authorities and has activated plans to assist,” Senator Reynolds’s office said in a statement.
“Emergency Management Australia and Australian Defence Force liaison officers are embedded in the Queensland State Disaster Coordination Centre.
“Emergency Management Australia is working with the ADF, Commonwealth agencies, Queensland authorities, local Queensland mayors, AGforce and Rural Aid to meet the needs of affected farmers and their communities.
“AGforce and Rural Aid are coordinating the transportation of bulk fodder to strategic distribution points.
“The local disaster management groups are coordinating with the ADF to use their heavy lift capability to move fodder to secondary distribution points.
“We recommend any farmers and members of the community who require any support during this natural disaster contact their local shire council or local disaster management group.”
The ADF has put Brigadier Stephen Jobson on the ground in Julia Creek to talk to local farmers and find out what support they need, including disposing of their cattle’s carcasses.
The aerial view of Townsville last Monday (Feburary 4) around the height of the flooding disaster.CREDIT:ANDREW RANKIN – AAP
A further 17 Townsville schools reopened on Monday, but 21 remained closed and more than 34 childcare centres were also still shut.
An Ergon Energy spokesman said only 150 properties were without power on Monday in Townsville after 17,000 were plunged into darkness during the height of the floods.
The premier’s office said in a statement on Sunday evening all seaports were open, buses and taxis were returning to normal and only eight people remained in evacuation centres.
