Patchy storms prior to Christmas bolstered the spirit of some districts, but farmers have since returned to handfeeding and working through options to keep breeding stock with no reprieve in sight, according to Bathurst Centacare drought assistance project coordinator Louise Hennessy.
“The drought has affected 100 per cent of the state with differing severity, but for some areas the drought has been protracted,” she said.
“Now the majority (of farms) in the west are back to conditions as they were before Christmas.
Farmers are looking at their plans and what their options are.” Ms Hennessy said Catholic social services, including St Vincent de Paul and Centacare, were working together with other agencies, including from government, to help get the best support to farming families and communities in need and to avoid unnecessary frustration.
“Centacare is working in partnership with the many other government and non-government services in this drought and the benefit of this is so important because, with our network and links, we are able to refer someone we see who may have come for counselling, to the right place – whether it be for financial support, for information about stock management and welfare or how to get some funding and support to have a social get-together for their community,” she said.
He said the impact of the prolonged drought was severe.
“This is my first experience of drought in Australia.
“I have visited them on their properties and some stock like sheep need to be put down.” On a practical level, Fr Jaboneta said the parish school was offering fee relief for farming families to help with school fees and Catholic social services were providing help.
“Even in our Masses here, I have included prayers for rain, so we’ve been asking people to pray for rain for us,” he said.
Centacare Bathurst has a drought support appeal and are able to offer services without cost to anyone in the rural community affected by drought, go to: http://www.centacarebathurst.com.au/Home The Department of Primary Industries “Drought Hub”: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/droughthub With thanks to the ACBC.