The Hunter region may have received a much-needed dose of rain this week, but the drought is far from over.
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Hunter residents are encouraged to help Australia’s drought-stricken farmers by making a donation to Rural Aid’s Buy a Bale campaign.
Donations of cash, non-perishable food items and pet food can be dropped off at Goldmans Produce in Cessnock, Pokolbin General Store, Baileys of Greta, Melissa Mastin Stylz on Track in Paterson, and Kirkwood Produce Singleton and Rutherford.
Goldman’s Produce manager Phillip Goldman said many of their customers have gotten behind the campaign by making a donation or buying an extra bale of hay or dog food for a farmer in need.
“Some local people are doing it tough, but they realise others are worse off,” Mr Goldman said.
“It all helps – people here have got their heart in the right spot.”
Kearsley country singer Mackenzie Pringle is supporting the campaign and is picking up the donations from local businesses once a week.
Ms Pringle helped raise more than $20,000 for Buy A Bale through her series of Mackenzie’s Farm Aid Appeal concerts from 2014 to 2016.
She was named Cessnock’s young citizen of the year in 2015 for her efforts, and went on to study at Tocal Agricultural College last year.
She said many of her Tocal classmates and other farmers she knows are in desperate need of water and feed.
“They’re all in a pretty tough situation,” she said.
“Dungog is among the worst we’ve seen.
“The dams are empty, they’ve got no feed – some of my mates’ properties are pretty much barren.
“It will take a lot of rain for the drought to be gone.”
Local businesses are encouraged to support the campaign by registering online for a donation barrel.
The Advertiser’s Fairfax stablemates including The Maitland Mercury, Newcastle Herald, Hunter Valley News and Scone Advocate have joined forces with Rural Aid to help Hunter farmers as they fight to survive the dry conditions.
The campaign was launched on February 14 and has already raised more than $80,000.
Donations can be made at buyabale.com.au.
How can you help?
Donate to buy hay, water and groceries
Funds raised for groceries will be used to buy gift cards at the farmer’s local supermarket. That way, the money raised in the Hunter will go back into the region’s economy.
Money put towards water will be spent locally while hay will be sourced from outside the Hunter and transported to farmers because of a lack of supply in the region.
Go shopping for a farmer
Rural Aid will then distribute the items to farmers across the Upper and Lower Hunter.
The drop off points are Baileys of Greta, Melissa Mastin Stylz on Track in Paterson, Pokolbin General Store, Goldmans Produce in Cessnock, Kirkwood Produce Singleton and Kirkwood Produce Rutherford.
Want to get involved at work?
Pop money in a barrel, or help fill a hay truck
Take on the challenge at work and see how far you can go.
Businesses can also sponsor a truck load of hay. Sponsorship money will flow into the Hunter account and be put towards supplies.
