fighting for our farmers
Drought Relief For Cobar Farmers
In Australia, farmers are the lifeblood of our country and they are in crisis. Record breaking heat and lack of rain means farmers are struggling to feed sheep and cattle, and keep crops alive.
In early March this year, Beth Merkus, our President and Loretta, our Community Manager made the nine-hour drive to the town of Cobar in remote New South Wales. They made the trek to deliver $6,000 towards purchasing groceries, meat and fuel vouchers for distribution to drought-affected farmers.
The Club partnered with their own District 9810, who provided a matching grant, and Melbourne based businesses to work with the Rotary Club of Cobar’s drought relief program.
“Helping our farmers who are really doing it tough out in the bush is something our Club and local community wanted to get behind,” Beth Merkus, President, Rotary Club of Mount Waverley explained. “Travelling to Cobar to see first-hand the conditions our farmers are enduring was eye opening. We understand that while there’s green grass around, these are still difficult times and many farmers will generate next to no income.”
Providing vouchers purchased from local businesses in Cobar had a two-fold impact - helping stimulate the local business economy while providing much-needed essentials to farmers, both of whom are the backbone of the community.
“Members heard some really sad stories of the impact of the drought,” Beth said. “Meeting with farmers and families that were so grateful, that pretty much had nothing left, but that opened up their hearts and homes to welcome us was a very humbling experience.”
We are now more committed than ever to supporting the Cobar community through these tough times and into the future. We look forward to the day when we can all celebrate the end of the drought. Thank you to everyone for their donations towards making a small difference in the lives of these Cobar farmers.
On June 17, 2020, an article was published in Rotary Down Under about the special relationship our Club has made with Rotary Club of Cobar and the Cobar community.
