L to R: Sunbury Rotarian Athol Perry
Rotary Club of Benalla's drought representative Kim Scanlon,
Benalla Rural City's Helen Taylor, Crs Bill Hill and Peter Davis and
Bob Walters from the Rotary Club of Sunbury.
The Rotary Club of Sunbury has come to the aid of bushfire stricken farmers with a donation of a large truck load of fodder and fencing materials. The club learnt of the plight of the Molyullah, Myrrhee and Tolmie farmers at a Rotary District drought relief meeting in Kilmore, and within a week Rotarians Bob Walters and Athol Perry had organised a load of donated goods from the Sunbury district to be transported to Benalla.
Athol was overwhelmed by the generosity of the people from his area that he contacted during his efforts to rustle up donations. "Even though there are many people doing it tough in our district as well, these same people felt compassion for the struggling farmers from the Benalla area who have been hit with the double tragedy of bushfires on top of the drought conditions" Athol said.
Benalla Rural City Drought Strategy Committee Chairperson, Councillor Bill Hill was on hand to accept the donation, and to thank the Rotary Club of Sunbury. Bill said that he was humbled by the substantial contribution made to our farmers from the Sunbury district, and impressed with the speed in which the donation was organised.
There are many farmers struggling with the impact of fires and drought on their properties and further donations would be welcome. A list of fire affected landholders has been compiled and donations of fodder and fencing materials are being distributed to farmers fairly and equitably. Donations can be made by contacting the Benalla Rural City on 5760 2600, or the Rotary Club of Benalla's contact Kim Scanlon, on 5766 6247.
Farmers and townsfolk from the Northeast of Victoria are currently living through a very nervous time. Recent rains and the cooler weather of autumn have eased the fire threat but not helped the amount of water available to rural communities in town storages and farmers dams. Many of Northern Victoria's major water storages are at less than 10% of capacity and are fast running dry.
May is going to be the crucial "make or break" month for farmers. The north of Victoria needs mild temperatures and above average, constant rains to help our rural communities out of the critical drought situation.
The good news is that so far the weather has remained mild so that any rains can enable crops and pastures to be sown and grown. Farmers are hastily sowing winter pastures for any stock that they have left on their farms.
The bad news is that even the best farmers are running out of fodder supplies for their remaining stock, and very few will have enough fodder to get through the winter period. Even with new pastures, stock will need dry food to supply the roughage needed for good health.
There are two main ways Rotary clubs can help our rural communities NOW. Cash is needed for farmers to purchase fodder. A small bale of hay retails for upwards of $13 per bale at the moment, and yet on a normal year you can purchase the equivalent bale of hay for $2. Fodder drives would be welcomed.
The other way to help is for a Melbourne club to host a group of families from a drought or fire stricken area for a weekend's respite from their farms. To this end our drought committee has set up contacts with Officers from the shires of Benalla, Mansfield, Wangaratta and Alpine shires. These people have compiled lists of suitable families. Contact one of our Rotary Drought and Fire Committee members and we will give you the details of how to contact one of these Shire Officers.
Please contact our Fire and Drought Committee members for more information:
Alan Anderson, Rotary Club of Eltham
Kim Scanlon, Rotary Club of Benalla
Philip Clancy, Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell
Kim Scanlon
Rotary Club of Benalla
