Visitors to the first Navigating the Drought forum have strongly encouraged their farming colleagues to also attend, praising the event for its convenience and positivity.
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The R U Aware We Care-hosted events have been held in Attunga and Narrabri, and are scheduled in Moree on Thursday, Inverell on Tuesday and Glen Innes on Wednesday.
More than 20 services are being represented, making the forums a one-stop shop for everything drought-related.
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Margaret Bow and Robert Greenaway went to the first forum in Attunga to learn what assistance they might be able to tap into.
The two are based at Moore Creek and run 1500 crossbred ewes, 500 of them due to lamb soon.
Mrs Bow said they’d come away with some good news and tips.
“We were hoping we might qualify for something under the Farm Household Allowance, but we’d gone to Centrelink and had been knocked back,” she said.
“Robert found out he will qualify and they showed him how to fill the application in.
“We also got some advice on feeding requirements.”
And there’s more
But information wasn’t the only thing to be gained.
“It was just a good get-together,” she said.
“I enjoyed it, I really did – I liked talking to everyone, different people I hadn't met before.”
She said she was also grateful to receive a hamper of groceries donated by local and far-flung individuals and businesses, sorted and packed by the Salvation Army in Tamworth.
“We were overwhelmed by what we got with food and stuff; it was unreal, we felt embarrassed,” Mrs Bow said.
“We’re not used to getting things given to us like that – then the fact they also carried our goodies to the car for us.
“Even the dogs weren’t forgotten.”
Asked whether she felt the forum had been worth the time off the farm, Mrs Bow said: “Of course it is. Everyone should go.”