CATS AND BOMBERS PARTNER WITH RURAL AID

Posted on 9 May 201931 October 2023

Essendon and Geelong have partnered with one of the largest rural charities in Australia, Rural Aid, ahead of the fourth installation of the Powercor Country Festival blockbuster at the MCG this Sunday.

Founded by Charles and Tracy Alder in 2015, Rural Aid provides support to farmers and rural communities in times of natural disaster such as drought, flood and fire, as well as supporting the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Donations from the game and the fundraising effort will go directly to the drought-stricken farming region of Gippsland in country Victoria.

Working with Rural Aid, plans have also been announced to host a Hay Mate Concert in Yarra Park in 2020, for the fifth anniversary of the Country Festival blockbuster.

Rural Aid Chief Executive Officer Charles Alder said: “We are delighted to be partnering with both the Essendon and Geelong Football clubs and congratulate both clubs on raising the profile of rural and regional communities.”

Essendon Chief Executive Officer Xavier Campbell said the Club was proud to be partnering with Rural Aid in line with the blockbuster Country Festival clash this week.

“This is an important partnership with one of the largest rural charities in Australia, and we’re proud of this natural alignment with Rural Aid throughout an important week for us in recognising the contribution of regional communities to our great state,” Campbell said.

“The fundraising is for the Victorian drought, particularly concentrating our efforts for farmers in Gippsland so we look forward to a big turnout at the MCG on Sunday for the Country Festival in support of Rural Aid.”

Geelong Chief Executive Officer Brian Cook said the Club was looking forward to a strong partnership with Rural Aid.

“We are proud to partner with Rural Aid, who work to achieve positive outcomes and assist communities in need,” Cook said.

“Community is important to our club, everything we do has a central purpose around building a better community and giving back to the community that supports us.

“We thank Rural Aid for their support and look forward to a successful partnership into the future.”

For more information on Rural Aid, please click here.

The article’s credit is for the source: Geelong Cats

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