We can talk (or write) about it until we are blue in the face, but even if you’re sick of reading about it, we’re going to keep at it. Because the reality is, we’re at the point now where the drought has crept in to all aspects of our lives.

Obviously it’s hurting businesses, but I’ll come back to that. It’s affecting the education of our children, with a number of high schools offering Year 12 students additional points in the Higher School Certificate (under Educational Access Schemes) if they’ve been negatively impacted by the drought.

This week, the NSW government announced a $255,000 relief package for local early education centres, because some families can’t afford to send their kids to preschools.

The childcare centres can use the money for transport arrangements to maintain participation, crisis planning or fee subsidies to support families.

And we are only starting to see the financial impacts of the drought.

While many local businesses are starting to feel the flow-on effects of an agricultural industry that’s basically at a stand still, Tamworth Business Chamber director Stephanie Cameron said many more would start to feel the financial strain in the build up to Christmas.

“As farmers get through this season without planting a winter crop, and they get to November and don’t receive a pay cheque, I think you’ll find that’s when the cash flow crisis will really start to hit home,” she said.

“Unfortunately for businesses, cash flow at Christmas is a really tough time.”

Even once we emerge from drought, it will linger over farmers and rural economies like the shadow of a grim reaper.

Experts believe all but 30 per cent of the state’s total breeding stock has been sold off. It’s going to take years for farmers to rebuild, which will slow the bounce back of regional businesses.

It’s going to take strong leadership and innovation from our politicians at all three tiers of government and our business community, to guide us through these figuratively and literally dry times.