Rotary’s drought relief for North West communities

The Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise is coordinating the distribution of one million dollars of Federal Government funds as part of the Drought Communities Support Initiative that provides financial assistance to farmers, farm workers and any businesses that directly support them in the Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond Shires.  

Rotary Project Manager, Lee Cox, sayid that heavy rains along the coast had not extended far inland, leaving these districts still drought declared.

“The Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek districts have not benefited from the good rain that has fallen along the coastal fringe,” Mr Cox said.

The Federal Government’s Drought Communities Support Initiative continues to assist drought-declared areas by supporting projects that directly benefit the affected regions with grants of up to three thousand dollars. To ensure the local economy benefits, the funds will only be able to be spent in the Hughenden, Richmond or Julia Creek local government areas between March and June 2019.

“Our Rotary project has already provided 250 thousand dollars in drought assistance to drought-affected shires. The additional Federal Government funding of one million dollars boosts our support to these communities,” Mr Cox said.

“Evidence shows that every drought-relief dollar spent in a local community circulates five times in that same community.”

Starting in January 2019, the Rotary Project will identify eligible grant recipients in the three Shires, with the grants distributed in early March and early May.

“Local knowledge is the key to success, so we’re inviting people in the three districts to go the Rotary Project website www.droughtrelief.org.au and nominate themselves or someone else. A third option is for anyone, regardless of where they live, to make a donation through the website.”