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Flood Recovery Feed for Mid-North Coast Farmers

Announcement posted by Rapid Relief Team 27 Apr 2021

New event added for Wingham, Final Registrations 7 May + Testimonials

Rapid Relief Team has added an additional Farmers Community Connect event to its mid-north coast visit next month and extended the registration cut-off date for free bales of hay to 7 May. 

RRT has received 75 registrations from interested farming families so far, but were hopeful to have more take advantage of the offer, RRT Director Lester Sharples said. 

“Around 1,500 bales of hay are available for farmers in the flood-hit region thanks to community donations – but it’s essential farmers register so we can plan the transport and delivery of the hay.”

The Farmers Community Connect is an initiative of the RRT, made up of volunteers of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. 

Mental health support, rural financial counselling and veterinary support will be available at the events – alongside the chance to enjoy a BBQ and for farmers to take advantage of free bales of hay. 

A new event in Wingham on Thursday 20 May has been added to the RRT’s road trip and Kempsey will now be hosted on Friday 21 May.  

“Locals are invited to enjoy lunch and the chance to connect with the local community and take advantage of the variety of services on offer,” Mr Sharples said.

“These events also provide an opportunity for those who have done it tough to connect with others in the community and share their stories,” Mr Sharples said. 

Mr Sharples said it was the Christian values of charity and compassion that motivated the RRT to help. 

“It’s in the weeks and months following a natural disaster that can be the most challenging, as the scale of the clean-up and recovery task becomes clear. 

“It can be daunting, but it’s as a community we give each other the strength to get through.”

Registrations close Friday 7 May and can be done via: http://bit.ly/FCCFloodRelief or email action.au@rrtglobal.org  

Testimonials from April’s recent Farmers Community Connect event in St George, Queensland:

Ellen Smith, Tralley Farm St George

The drought has affected us dramatically. We have sheep, but we’ve lost a lot of sheep and especially during the dust storms, young sheep seem to die. We also farm, and we didn’t have a crop for years so we’re just grateful now that we’ve seen some rain. 

I think events like today are really great. I can’t believe the amount of work that the Rapid Relief Team have put in and it’s just been a really good morning out and the pellets are always a bonus. The support staff that are here bringing services have been very useful and easy to approach in an event like this. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is a really lovely gesture. 


Lucille Graham, Landridge Farm in St George

There’s been quite a lot at stake because the drought has been going on for so long, but we just keep doing the best we can with what we’ve got and hope that it doesn’t go on forever which it certainly hasn’t. 

Events like today are very important so that we feel that we’re not forgotten and coming out here to see that we are being looked after means a lot. There’s so much there, so much information that we don’t know about other than getting emails. 

 

Media enquiries: Bas Bolyn 0447 486 195

 

About the Rapid Relief Team (RRT)

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church established the RRT in 2013 to express the Church’s principles of care and compassion. The RRT is staffed by Church volunteers who provide catering services at a range of charitable events and emergencies.

Globally, the RRT has more than 14,500 volunteers and operates in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, the United States, Canada and Germany. 


Photo is from 2020 Farmers Community Connect Event hay run to support farmers in NSW's South Coast: