HOW TO YARN LIKE A FARMER

Rural Aid’s unofficial spokesperson, The Ringer, advises city-based Australians on how to speak in the bush.

One of Australia’s largest rural charities, Rural Aid, is asking all Australians to dress like a farmer for the national “Good Onya Mate” fundraising concert scheduled for 28 November.

Rural Aid’s unofficial spokesperson for the event, known as The Ringer, held a press conference today to advise Australians on how to talk like a farmer for the event.

“A good place to start for first-timers trying to talk like the rest of us over the otherside of the Great Divide is to say: good onya mate. You’ll notice we don’t say you… unless we’re talking about buying a single female sheep… a ewe, ya know?” The Ringer says from his paddock in central Queensland.

“In that case you’d go: G’day Bruce, how’s the ewe ya bought?”

The charity encourages Australians to post a photo of their outfits with the hashtag #goodonyamate as a message of solidarity to farmers across the country.

CEO of Rural Aid John Warlters says the funds raised from the concert will go towards the charity’s new Stronger Futures program, dedicated to helping farmers develop strong and sustainable futures for their families and local communities.

“Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures initiatives include our Farm Army. That’s thousands of Farm Army volunteers give their time to help rural communities rebuild and repair following natural disasters. Farm Army volunteers make a real difference in rural areas and are also recruited for specific Rural Aid community projects,” Mr Warlters said.

“We’ll also revitalise towns through the Our Towns community renewal program. In drought-affected areas, community facilities often become rundown as scarce funds are prioritised for the necessities of life. The Rural Aid team works with key stakeholders in country towns to identify much-needed rebuilding and bring community makeover projects to life.”

“Importantly, the money raised will underpin our rural counselling services because one conversation at the right time, with the right person, can change everything. Rural Aid employs qualified, nationally registered counsellors to provide mental wellbeing support services to help build emotional resilience in farmers and farming families; aiming to reduce stress, depression and suicide in rural areas,” Mr Warlters concluded.

To help Australians authentically dress like a farmer for the Good Onya Mate concert, Rural Aid has appointed The Ringer from Queensland to explain how it’s done. He held a press conference today on how to speak like a farmer.

END
Official spokesperson, CEO John Warlters 0409618641
Unofficial spokesperson, The Ringer 0407652149
Media contact, Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935 media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au