Death and Destruction; Australia’s most destructive drought in years, is bringing people together with true acts of mateship.
Written By | Martha Smith
Australia’s most destructive drought in years is in full force and effecting everyone from farmers to consumers as food prices rise. In recent weeks 100% of New South Wales had been declared to be in drought, with almost two thirds of Queensland also being in drought or at risk of it. As the drought worsens rain is becoming almost obsolete, the small sprinkles every now and then doing almost nothing to help farmers feed their stock. The import of hay is becoming extremely expensive, farmers often having to choose between feeding themselves or their stock. For many water has simply run out and now has to be bought and delivered by truck at and extremely high price.
While this drought has brought many people great hardship it has also brought with it many opportunities to show mateship and comradery that Australia is so often credited with. The Buy a Bale initiative put together by Fairfax Media in conjunction with Rural Aid is delivering hay bales to farmers who have been hit the hardest by the drought and are struggling to keep their stock alive. The Salvation Army are appealing for donations so they can help those struggling as well as providing counseling services for those who are having a hard time because of the drought.Two Australian morning shows(form channels 7 and nine) currently have appeals going on , asking people for donations so they can buy Bales for Farmers. Even Local schools have pitched in to help raise money for farmers with bake sales and walkathons some making food hampers and one school even doing a rain dance to try and bring the rain to town.
Coming up on the 27th of October, in Tamworth NSW, the ‘Hay Mate’ benefit concert will be raising money for the ‘Buy a Bale’ initiative, with stars of the Australian music scene like, Daryl Braithwaite, The Veronicas, Guy Sebastian, John Farnham and many more all performing. All proceeds from the concert will go to buying hay bales for farmers all across the region, the Tamworth region being one of the dryests in New South Wales, where not a single farmer will harvest a winter crop for the first time since 1965.
Donations can be made online through the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Buy a Bale website or buy searching ‘farmers drought relief for ‘drought relief’ and choosing who you’d like to donate to. Donations can also be made in stores with many having donation tins.