RURAL charity Aussie Helpers has helped boost 12 Goolhi families with much-needed fodder and fresh food.
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Arriving this morning, the hay and supplies were dropped at Les and Laura Jones’ Goolhi Road property and will be collected by nearby farmers over the coming days.
The delivery comes less than a week after Aussie Helpers opened their new base in Gunnedah.
Aussie Helpers team member Dave Moon said the charity had been surveying local farmers since setting up shop in Gunnedah.
“The idea of surveying locals is to establish a database and really work out who needs what,” Mr Moon said.
“Every farm is different and needs different stuff, so by travelling around and surveying farmers we are much better equipped to help everyone.”
Mr Moon said the hay was accompanied by fresh food supplied by Feed a Farmer.
“The hay has actually been carted up from Bordertown, South Australia,” he said.
“It will be shared between 12 local families here in Goolhi and, while it’s not going to be everything they need, it should provide some help in the short term.
“The fresh food I think will really help boost everyone out here.
“It’s one less expense for people doing it tough and it does help change things up a bit for them.
“We will also be on the move all the time, delivering this fresh food as it comes in to try and get it to as many people as we can as it arrives.”
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Goolhi farmer Laura Jones said the donations were greatly appreciated.
“Words can’t explain what these donations mean to us out here,” Mrs Jones said.
“Donations have been coming in thick and fast from all across the country and it has been great to see.”
Mrs Jones said the donations were critical to her family’s survival during the drought.
“If it wasn’t for these donations, we would have nothing,” she said.
“It may be a little too late for us – our stock have already been dying – but this will help keep us going.”
The Goolhi farmer said her family was “in a hell of a fight” with the drought.
“We still have our shaky days, but we are hanging in there,” she said.
“Rain is what we need the most and without it really is a struggle.
“Our stock are dying right in front us and, if I’m honest, we would be lucky to still be on the land at Christmas time.
“There are so many others like us out there and these donations are so greatly appreciated.
“My biggest hope is that the government continues to find ways to help out because, while these charities are doing a wonderful job, they can’t go on forever.”