Saturday 4 August 2018

Please help our farmers

Our Aussie farmers are a tough and resilient lot. Probably like farmers the world over. They are at the mercy of the weather, the markets and our all powerful supermarkets for starters. They are used to dealing with drought but this current drought is just crippling them and they need our help. They will never ask for it but too many of them are suffering in silence and many are taking their own lives unless organisations like Aussie Helpers gets alongside them and shows them that they are not alone and that people around our huge country are thinking of them and wanting to help.


Used with permission: Aussie Helpers
I rang Sam from Aussie Helpers last week and asked if I could use some of their photos on my blog and she has given permission for me to use the watermarked ones. However, there are lots of other photos on their Facebook page showing the extent of the damage done by the drought. Take a look at the farmer standing in his dried out dam. Some farmers have no water for showers etc. and one lady who I saw on one of the current affairs programs on TV said she had to drive into town to do her washing. She probably doesn't even have much money to buy fuel.


Used with permission: Aussie Helpers
Animals are dying from lack of feed and those with crops are losing them due to the lack of water.




 The ABC website has some really informative articles in  Full Coverage: Australia's Drought Crisis that are really worth reading if you would like to know what is happening to those who provide food for those of us in the cities. I have put the links to some of them below:

'See us, hear us, help us'.

From the drought to the dancefloor: The kids of the big dry

Drought Relief: The dos and dont's of helping Australian farmers and rural communities with donations

Used with permission:Aussie Helpers

It can be difficult sometimes to know who to donate to so that the money will go directly to those in need. That's why I have chosen to go with Aussie Helpers as I know that Brian and Nerida Egan 
will make sure that the money isn't wasted. If you have a look in the Shop on their webpage you can see how to donate and they also have a cookbook which would make a great Christmas present for friends or family Aussie Helpers Cookbook for Charity for Australian Farmer. Of course, everyone has their own charity they like to donate to but I know for sure that Brian Egan will get feed etc. to the farmers if he can. 

You may have seen Drought Series on the ABC's 7.30 Report during the week. I only saw Part 3: The Big Dry which was heart breaking.  I didn't realise that a Current Affair also had a series on the drought and only saw the last one as I don't usually watch the show but if you are interested here is the program  Country in Crisis.


Used with permission:Aussie Helpers

Let's show our farmers that those of us who live in the city are thinking of them and want to do our utmost to help. I know that money is tight for many families but every little bit helps no matter how small. If our farmers go under we will end up paying at the checkout anyway so let's all do our bit if we can. Thanks heaps. 



10 comments:

  1. Chel, It is tragic to see these hardworking Australian families being crushed in this way. The Qld Country Women's Association runs a public Rural Crisis Fund where help is offered by way of grocery vouchers, store credit, help with bills etc and most importantly every dollar goes directly to where it is needed. These ladies have their fingers on the pulses of the rural communities and will know exactly where money should go. Thanks for raising this issue on your blog.

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    1. Yes Barb, that's right. The CWA ladies would also know how to help. I didn't think of them. They do wonderful work.

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  2. I watched the 7:30 reports, together with my son. It was heartbreaking, the land so parched and the suffering of the farmers, families and animals. We can become so disconnected from our food in the city, forgetting where it comes from and all the hard work, good soil and water required to grow/raise it. Such hard, hard times. Thank you for signalling an organisation that we can donate to, we are matching our son's donation that he has saved from his little neighbourhood job. It's important that as much of that money gets to farmers as possible, they need everyone's help. Meg

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    1. Meg, how wonderful that your son wants to get involved. Good on him!

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  3. It's so sad. I didn't know there was a severe drought going on in Australia. :(

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    1. Nil, you probably wouldn't have noticed when you were in Australia if you were mainly in the city.

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  4. Hi, If anyone is going to the EKKA, remember to go to the tea room for the CWA. Always lovely tea and scones. Also take the time to "Meet a Farmer". Also farmers are only one part of the country community, many of the people on the surrounding towns directly or indirectly rely on the farmers for employment. Many towns are also doing it tuff with water shortage, low employment often resulting in despair and depression. Drought in Australia has always been a part of our culture and will continue. Good times do return. I hope families take support and comfort from our prayers.

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    1. I avoid the EKKA because of the flu as so many people seem to pick it up there and bring it home. I haven't been since I was a child and can remember getting lost and I crossed the busy road to get to the car park and waited at the car. My parents weren't happy. That was back in the 1950s.

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  5. Dear Nanna Chel,
    Good on you writing this post and helping to raise further awareness. I don't have much to spare but last pay I donated to buy a bale and this pay to Rural Aid. I know that the government are finally onboard to start offering some assistance as of next month, I only wish in future they would be as quick to offer aid to our countrymen as quickly as they are to send money overseas for foreign aid. The drought didn't happen overnight, some areas have been in draught for six years. These farming families are the backbone of our country. Time the Australian government started putting the needs Australian citizens first.
    Lisa

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    1. Thanks Lisa. Thankfully the government is now helping out although hopefully it isn't too little too late for some of our farmers.

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