THE YEAR is shaping up to look a lot like an environmental thriller with floods, bushfires and now a global pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But for some, that's on top of years of relentless drought.
At the helm of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency is coordinator-general Shane Stone and he wants to make sure that among the mess and tragedy of 2020 that farmers are not forgotten.
"I can't say this loudly enough but the drought is not over, notwithstanding some pleasing rainfall," he said.
"There are places that are sill in a world of pain, like parts of QLD and the southern downs where properties are going into their seventh year of drought.
"People in the cities will move on when they are caught up with the virus but we have people out here who have been knocked from pillar to post."
The National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency works with all levels of government, charities and agricultural organisations to help farmers and other rural and regional Australians living through the drought and floods.
It works closely with the Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Regional Investment Corporation and charities to provide emergency relief to farming families.
Mr Stone said the sentiment in the cities is that the drought is over because there has been a bit of rain in regional Australia.
"That couldn't be further from the truth and it does undermine my work when people say it's over, it's not over," he said.
Read also:
"This is about helping people manage through a big crisis in their lives, it's not a hand out, it's a hand up.
"It's still full-on, for some people it's as simple as trying to put food on the table."
The Regional Investment Corporation was recently expanded by another $2 billion.
Mr Stone recommends farmers put in their paperwork for financial assistance before the end of September 30 when the interest-free component of the loans comes to an end.