Lee Kernaghan and 'Farmer Mick' Team Up to Help QLD, NSW and VIC Flood Victims

24 January 2011

Ex-farmer and children's author, Brendan Casey, knows how it feels to have your livelihood - and dreams, washed away. His family's farm near Deniliquin in southern NSW was severely affected by the 1981 and 1992 floods.

"After suffering big losses in the '81 flood, we borrowed a lot of money to build a levy bank which complied with the flood mitigation scheme at the time. So when the '92 flood came we thought we'd be OK. But we weren't. Our big, expensive levy bank failed, and we were heart-broken." Casey said.

Brendan started writing children's books three years ago to raise awareness of what life is really like on the land.

"I think it's very important that our kids understand where their food comes from, and that without our farmers, Coles and Woolworths would have nothing to sell." he said. "And that's why I created 'Farmer Mick'."

Deeply disturbed by the damage inflicted by the current floods in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, Casey decided to enlist 'Farmer Mick' to try and do something significant to help.

"Right from the start, 'Farmer Mick Harvest Time Havoc' has given back to the bush, through its support of the Aussie Helpers Children's Fund, which my mate, country music star and former Australian of the year, Lee Kernaghan is Patron of." Casey explains. "But after watching the flood devastation, night after night on TV, I thought: well, we ought to kick this thing up a notch."

"So today we're announcing that from now through until the end of February, all net proceeds (approx. $10) from the sale of every copy of 'Farmer Mick Harvest Time Havoc' purchased at www.FarmerMick.com will be donated to the Aussie Helpers flood relief effort." Casey said.

When asked why people should get on board and get a copy of 'Farmer Mick Harvest Time Havoc' when they can just make a donation directly to flood relief, Casey replied:

"I'd encourage everyone to donate to the flood relief effort. This is just another way people can help. But in a way that, hopefully, will forge a lasting connection with the land - by taking this story into their homes and reading it to children. It's a tragic irony that the book's title is Harvest Time Havoc, because this flood occurred in the middle of what promised to be a bumper harvest and the best in more than a decade for a lot of farmers. I know how soul-destroying this is. And I know 'Farmer Mick' can help."