Moree and district rally behind drought-stricken farmers
MOREE and district businesses, residents and community organisations are rallying to help drought-stricken farmers across the region, with donations and support pouring in to the McGregor Gourlay Drought Muster appeal.
Thousands of dollars’ worth of fuel and shopping vouchers have been donated as well as household staples, toiletries, bulk fresh-water supplies and dry and canned dog food.
The Drought Muster, co-ordinated by McGregor Gourlay employees Bree Pring and Tegan George, has only been active for a few weeks.
The support, however, has been huge.
“It has been just unbelievable,” Bree Pring said.
Image Supplied.
“Coles Moree have donated all the groceries and toiletries for hampers that we are putting together and so many businesses and individuals have made contributions – one lady from Victoria donated $1000 worth of vouchers, an incredible gesture,” she said.
Moree and regional businesses WMG Ag, New Edge Microbials, Rowena Village Inn, Moree Real Estate, Regional Australia Bank, Reado’s Meats, Grain Corp Moree, Any Occasion Catering, Axichem, Discount Drug Store Moree, Deluxe Cafe Moree and the Pally Pub have made donations or raised funds for the Drought Muster.
And it’s just not businesses and companies that have rallied to the cause but individuals have made valuable contributions as well.
Woolworths Moree store manager Andrew Finch and assistant manager Kylie Heffernan invite everyone to come along and support the supermarket’s drought relief campaign in-store today, Saturday August 11 (Image Copyright Bill Poulos).
Jason and Andrea Post, Trish Siddins, Scott and Marie Rogers, Josh and Brooke Sauer, Leonie Southwell, Von and Simone Warner, Julia Mitchell, Fran Young, Sue Shaw, Greg and Sue James, Helen and Tom Lewis, Rob and Karen Bradbury, Kylie Newcomen, Cliff Fletcher, David and Elizabeth Gulliver and families, Carolyn O’Mullane, Paul Gane, Della Barnes and family, Joshua and Rebecca Prior and friends, Tegan George and Maddison Richards have made donations while staff from Moree Hospital and students and staff from East Moree Public School have also contributed.
Today between 10am and 2pm, Woolworths in Moree will join hundreds of other Woolworths’ stores across Australia to help raise much-needed funds.
All profits from fruit and vegetable sales, fresh meat from the butchery section, as well as bakery, deli and chilled goods will be donated to help Australian farmers get through a drought that is quickly becoming the worst in history.
All money raised will be donated to Rural Aid’s Buy-A-Bale Appeal.
Sprayerbarn Moree manager Andrew Uphill. Sprayerbarn outlets across NSW are supplying free labour to repair pumps with the only cost to farmers being parts (Image Copyright Bill Poulos).
There will also be raffles, samplings, donation buckets and baskets, and a barbeque.
Drought support is gaining plenty of traction locally and again showcases just how giving and supportive the Moree district can be in times of need.
At the recent Jellicoe Park Markets, Moree Lions Club donated 50 cents from every sale made at their barbeque while the same weekend Rowena Village Inn raised hundreds of dollars from a huge raffle promotion.
Café Omega on Balo Street is also pledging 50 cents per hot beverage sold during August, while Deluxe Café Moree and its customers last week raised $750 through coffee sales and donations.
Out on Greenbah Road, SprayerBarn Moree is supplying free labour to repair pumps with the only cost to farmers being parts.
“We have decided to donate our labour to repair small pumps for farmers that are in drought-declared areas. This is our community and we’re here to help in any way we can,” Moree Sprayerbarn manager Andrew Uphill said.
The iconic Golden Grain Hotel at Pallamallawa – better-known as the Pally Pub – will host an auction night jam-packed with plenty of entertainment on Saturday, August 25.
Live music with Joh and Kylie Hogan will start proceedings at 5pm with the auction commencing at 7.30pm.
All details at: https://www.facebook.com/PallyPub/
The auction night will be preceded by the Moree Drought Run, in conjunction with the Moree Drought Muster.
Registration for the Poker run opens at 8.30am with stands up by 10.30am, with the cost just $25 per person.
“The run will take in Pallamallawa, Coolatai, Graman for lunch, Delungra and back to Pallamallawa for a whole lot of fun, an auction, plenty of entertainment, raffles, great food and drinks at the Pally Pub, where accommodation is available,” co-organiser Leony Smith said.
For more info go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1114925665312178/ or message Leony Smith on Facebook.
Deluxe Café Moree proprietor Cindy Poulos with Moree Drought Muster co-ordinators Bree Pring (left) and Tegan George and $750 worth of fuel vouchers thanks to customer donations and a per-cup pledge (Image Copyright Bill Poulos).
Meanwhile, local federal member for Parkes Mark Coulton said in a recent media release that farming families across the electorate will receive immediate additional financial support to help them and their communities during the current devastating drought.
Mr Coulton said a new $190 million package of immediate relief will be welcomed by farming families doing it tough.
“I have no doubt that this will be a much-welcomed boost for farmers across my electorate currently feeling the devastating impacts of the drought,” he said.
“I would encourage any farmer in need of financial assistance during this tough time to contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service, which helps guide farmers through the process of finding and applying for the financial assistance available to them.”
Mr Coulton said that it is critical farmers do not self-assess, but instead seek support from the RFCS.
“Extra FHA payments will help farming families to pay their bills and get their kids to school, flowing right through to small businesses across my electorate,” Mr Coulton said.
Would you like to help?
For more information call 0267 508000 during business hours or go to McGregor Gourlay’s Drought Muster Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MoreeDroughtMuster/.
Words: Bill Poulos