Farmers are not alone thanks to drought donations

The funds from this year’s drought appeals are still bringing hope and much-needed financial relief to many desperate farmers and their families.

The Salvation Army has distributed around $1.5 million of the $2.5million raised earlier this year through appeals such as the We're for the Bush appeal, the Woolworths Rural Assistance Program, the ‘Weekend Sunrise Dollar 4 Drought’ and the ‘New England Drought Relief Appeal’.

Salvation Army rural chaplains, volunteers, emergency relief welfare centres and Eastern Territorial Rural Support Services have distributed Woolworths, IGA, CRT and EFTPOS vouchers, or cash grants for farmers in remote locations.

Salvation Army Territorial Consultant – Rural Support Services Pam Wilkes says the donations proved to many farmers they did not have to suffer alone.

“We’re dealing with a demographic that traditionally is very resilient – they’re the last people to put up their hands and ask for a handout, but many have reached breaking point,” Ms Wilkes says.

“I have new families calling daily for help, and regularly have tough farming men and women sobbing with gratitude! So many say, ‘please, please thank the companies who ran the appeals and the people who donated’.

“For the farmers, it’s tangible proof that the rest of Australia does care!”

The Salvation Army is taking part in information days in various locations to let locals know about the emergency resources and support services available. Other organisation involved include the NSW Farmers Association; the Rural and Remote Area Mental Health Program, the Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Department of Primary Industry Rural Support Workers, Centrelink Drought Support Workers and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Pam says the distribution is “a huge logistical exercise, with possibly 15,000 families needing assistance in NSW alone”.

“We’re working to cover the worst affected areas with systematic farm visits. We also have up to 10 new farming families a day phoning us, often through word of mouth from neighbours.”

While there has been some good rainfall, in some areas, Pam says many places are still in drought and farmers face a bleak winter.

“Even if we have follow up rain and a very mild winter – the best conditions you could possibly hope for, many will have to borrow to put in crops, or borrow heavily to feed stock over winter,” she says.

“Those who have had to sell stock, especially breeding stock, may not be able to afford to replace those animals. It will take years to rebuild herds and flocks.

“The financial effects of drought will be with us for a long time to come and the assistance will continue to be necessary.”

According to Pam, the relief funds have also given many a sense of hope.

“The greatest joy is hearing from the farmers how much this assistance has helped them emotionally and mentally and to hear them speak of renewed hope and faith,” she says.

“It is also giving our rural chaplains greater resources to help those in need and introducing them to many more farming families.”

Northern NSW Salvation Army rural chaplains Majors Peter and Jean Ridley say the resources are making a real difference.

 “We believe we have intercepted two cases we know of where the farmer has been suicidal. But thanks the provisions we are able to give through The Salvation Army, that spark of hope was rekindled,” says Major Peter Ridley.

Photo caption: Walgett (NSW) farmers cheered, as the ‘We’re for the Bush’ Appeal – which includes The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, the Commonwealth Bank, Radio 2GB, the NSW Farmers Association and public donations – brought a load of hay to town (Credit: Photo courtesy of Peter Ridley).