SOME time ago, Pioneer Valley Rotary Club member Brian Osborn received the gut-churning call that one of his mate’s from near Longreach had succumbed to the hardship caused by the drought.
After not getting anywhere near the value he was hoping for from his cattle when he took them in for agistment, he’d taken a rifle and shot his remaining cattle, a heartbreaking thing for a farmer to have to do to.
But it seemed like the most humane option after watching the animals starve in front of him, with absolutely no hope of rescue.
And then in a moment of desperation he turned the gun on himself, ending his own life.
It was after Mr Osborn relayed this terrible news to his fellow Rotary Club members that the wheels were set in motion for the current hay and molasses appeal dubbed the Helping Hands program that the club has initiated.
After hearing the story club member and current project co-ordinator Ron Poulsen put in two phone calls, one to the District Rotary Governor, and the other to the Rotary Club of Longreach as a follow up on Pioneer Valley Rotary’s decision to give a helping hand to those out west.
Pioneer Valley Rotary Club President Murray Gibbs said word of the Helping Hands program spread quickly through the local community.
“The first donation was given by Grahame and Rachael Hayles who kindly offered around 250 bales of hay, the response was thick and fast after that as the Pioneer Valley community started to call and offer assistance – not only in the provision of hay, but the baling and loading of the hay for transport,” Mr Gibbs said.
“Since then, more hay has been cut at Brad and Lyn Snell’s and Phil Head’s properties and more hay has been offered from Finch Hatton. Many people like Dan Williams have loaned equipment and helped club members cut, bale and load hay,” he said.
The first two double road trains containing 175 x 1.5 metre diameter round bales of hay were sent to Longreach earlier this year.
On Sunday another three road trains embarked on the trip to Longreach with an additional 240 bales loaded which will be delivered to a huge shed at Ken Hoolihan’s property off the Muttaburra Longreach Road.
A staggering $54950 has been donated so far for the appeal and those donations have not been confined to the local Rotary district. The Rotary Club of Noosa Heads has committed $13,000 and Rotary District 9460 (taking in regions like Stanthorpe) has committed $3000. There have even been pledges from as far afield as the Blue Mountains.
The main aim of the project is to gain enough support to get 1000 bales out to the affected area, meaning at least another $40,000 will need to be raised for fuel and other costs.
Unfortunately the cost of fuel for road trains is very steep; and even though that cost has been alleviated somewhat due to the generosity of local firm Crokers Fuel which donated precious diesel to help the cause, more funds are still needed to bring the plan to full fruition.
In addition to the hay bales, some mills in the Mackay region have been contacted and have pledged molasses supplies plus the special pods to carry the molasses out west.
“Molasses when mixed with hay, is an excellent food source for cattle, so the support from the mills is most appreciated as well.”
An appeal has also gone out to the local community to help in another basic necessity for a farm, dry dog food for the working dogs, and chicken pellets. The local Mitre 10 stores in Mackay, Sarina and Moranbah have offered to be collection points as has Blenners Transport Mackay.
Brian and Nerida Egan the founders of Aussie Helpers have also thrown their support behind the Helping Hands program.
The Egan’s established Aussie Helpers in 2002 to help fight poverty and lift the spirits of those severely affected by drought in the outback.
From what they saw around them and what they heard from people in the bush, they felt no organisation was doing anything significant to help families suffering from the worst drought in living history.
“Mr Egan has personally taken on the project along with a brilliant band of volunteers and on Saturday August 2, an Aussie Helpers Hay Day will be staged at Longreach by Aussie Helpers and Rotary.
“Local Mackay region country music legend Col Edmonds has agreed to give his time and sing at the event.
“Pioneer Valley Rotary and Aussie Helpers will also be talking to other sugar mills and major pet food producers and suppliers.”
Mr Egan said that it looks like around 50 farming families will be attending the Hay Day and Ken Hoolihan has reported that there is a real “buzz” starting to happen about the event.
“Farmers are a proud and independent lot and if you ask them if they need help, they’re likely to point to their next door neighbour even though they may be doing it incredibly tough themselves” Mr Egan said.
“At a Hay Day, we invite the local farming community and their families to come together, have a barby and a bit of a chin-wag – and if we give out a few bales of hay, toys, some dog food and so on at the same time, that’s OK,” he said.
Brian mentioned that this week, he drove out from Longreach about three hours to see a farmer on his property.
“He was wheezing pretty badly and looking fairly average so I asked if he was an asthmatic, and he said he was.
“When I asked where his medication was he said he couldn’t afford it, so I turned round and went back to Longreach to get it for him. Sometimes it’s just little things like that that can help a lot.”
The loss of a mate is tragic. The loss of a mate who thought he had absolutely nowhere to turn is unconscionable. Pioneer Valley Rotary and all those who’ve helped to date plus Aussie Helpers have pledged to send a message to our western community that they are not alone and that we all can help in some way.
For more information on how you can help with the Helping Hands project contact Murray Gibbs: 0408 887 031, Ron Poulsen: 0427 157 499, or Brian Egan: 0488 123 400.
