In the face of news in that western Queensland was nearly empty of stock and facing a half-billion-dollar reduction in revenue, threatening the foundations of small towns dotted across the grey landscape, groups such as Rotary district in the south and the newly-formed Western Queensland Drought Appeal began tapping into the desire of urban Australia to help.
A national drought appeal got under way, bringing corporate Australia and hundreds of thousands of dollars to the west for horse racing and a Paul Kelly headline concert, showing for the first time how tourism could bolster flagging economies. The following January , and again in April , the hundreds of truck drivers that made up the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners brought the nation to tears with record-breaking hay lifts, delivering not only physical sustenance but food for the souls of those in drought.
January Australia responded to the plight of desperate western Queenslanders with a hay drive beyond anything previously attempted. Fears for people's mental wellbeing grew as the drought wore on and grew in size - by March an astounding 88 per cent of Queensland was drought-declared , the peak so far - and the disjointed nature of assistance measures became federal election issues. Drought began spreading east and south through NSW and one psychological service geared towards assisting people in remote areas was receiving 50 calls a week , texts in one month alone, from a largely male clientele presenting with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
June David and Helen Ogg's sheep began bogging in dams on their Stamford property at the end of Five years on they were taking it one day at a time. The Lockyer Valley and Southern Downs shires were drought declared in May when farmers such as Nobby's Melvin Mengel experienced two failed summer plantings and a failed winter crop and were looking down the barrel of no income for yet another winter.
Granite Belt graziers were changing management decisions almost weekly in early to cope with unprecedented dry conditions, and by October, Traprock stonefruit growers were making the difficult decision to strip their trees of fruit to ensure their survival. Annual rainfall deficiencies are currently at record levels in Queensland's south east.
When you have been drought declared, the Queensland Government offers assistance to affected primary producers through the drought assistance package. The Drought Relief Assistance Scheme is available to primary producers in the grazing industries to manage their livestock resource during drought and to help restore their livestock resource post drought.
Other organisations and government departments may offer assistance, rebates and loans to support primary producers in managing drought situations include:. There are government, social and community based services that provide assistance for families suffering from the emotional and physical fallout of drought.
You will find information on feeding and managing livestock during drought , beef cattle nutrition including supplementation and crisis feeding , software packages to evaluate your options and assist in decision making and strategies to help you cope with stress.
If you encounter problems with any of the contact details provided or know of other useful sources of assistance, please contact Tahna Jackson, AgForce Queensland T: 07 E: jacksont agforceqld.
T: 13 25 23 cost of a local call within Queensland or 07 F: 07 E: callweb daf. The National drought program reform package announced by the Australian Government in the Budget will help primary producers focus on risk management and preparedness. The Farm Household Allowance is available to support farming families in hardship. Farm families and businesses in drought-affected areas have access to a range of assistance measures including:. The declarations on Tuesday will expand financial support for struggling farmers.
Primary producers who derive half their income from the land in those areas will now be eligible for financial support, including freight and water subsidies. Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the regions had been beset by extreme weather. Queensland drought the 'most severe in recorded history', leading climatologist says. Celebrity cosmetic surgeon's 'barbaric' attempt to fix a tummy tuck under local anaesthetic.
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