THIS drought is unlike any other in at least half a century, one Tamworth area landholder has said.
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As farmers across the country continue to say they don’t feel their plight is truly understood, Loomberah’s Simon Kelleher has explained it as “the perfect storm of adverse events”.
He said other droughts had still held promise around the corner but, this time, there was “no way out”.
According to the NSW DPI, 77.2 per cent of the North West, 53.5 of the Northern Tablelands and 62.4 per cent of NSW overall was now in drought or drought onset.
Assistant manager of Nambucca RSL Club Wendy Mills was so impacted by a photograph she saw illustrating the extent of the drought out west that she resolved to do what she could to help.
“I just couldn't stop thinking about what those families are going through,” she said.
She saw an ad for Furneys Stock Feeds who are supporting farmers as part of the ‘R U AWARE WE CARE’ drought appeal and decided to see if the Nambucca Valley could lend a hand.
After calling around to the clubs on the Mid North Coast Area Zone, she realised there was a strong desire from our whole region to chip in.
She started a donations drive at the Nambucca RSL Club, and the Macksville Ex-Services quickly jumped on board, as did Park Beach Bowls Club and C.ex Woolgoolga.
For just over a week members and other locals have been bringing in non-perishable food, toiletries, clothes, school stationery, and baby products to their local clubs, and Wendy said she has been overwhelmed by the generosity she has witnessed so far.
“The hearts of the people of the Nambucca Valley just amaze me,” she said.
One lady came in, saw the donations table and asked about it. I told her that even just a can from each community member would help. She came back a while later with a bag full of groceries and handed me $500. I almost cried.
“People from near and far have been donating – even a lady from Sydney has seen what we’re doing and is going to post up some items.
“Woolworths has given me a $100 gift card, and the local Lions Club has said they’d help out.
“The basis of our club here is really to be the hub of the community. But this is about everyone – it’s the whole of the Nambucca Valley that’s contributing to this.”
Club manager Peter Brewis has also been astounded by the community’s response so far.
“We’re going to need a bigger truck to get it all over there,” he said.
“We’re hoping a transport company will put their hand up to help us out.”
But Wendy said if that doesn’t happen, she’s willing to volunteer to drive it over the range.
In Macksville, they’ve been steadily growing their pile of community donations too.
“We had a lady who came in just a few minutes ago with a jumbo bag of cat and dog food, because she was worried about the pets out west too,” manager Judy Ward said.
“And we’ve had members go out and buy groceries and bring them back.
“But you don’t even have to do that – anything in your cupboards that you’re not using but think might be useful for someone else would be welcome. Even if it’s a small thing, we don’t mind.
“We’re just glad we can do this – this is what local community clubs do.”
Both Valley clubs will be collecting donations until August 12, where they will be transported to the Northwest and distributed to families in need.
“This is an example of what’s possible after just one week, but if people would keep it going – even just one can – that would be 10,000 cans from the Nambucca Valley,” Wendy said.