Behind the gate: Rural Aid shines light on farmers’ hidden burden

THEY feed the nation, battle the elements and keep going when times get tough, but behind the farm gate, many Australian farming families are carrying a burden few ever see.

Now Rural Aid is calling on Australians to stand alongside those who work the land, launching a national appeal to help farming families facing the often relentless pressures of keeping their livestock, livelihoods and families going.

From natural disasters and rising costs to financial strain and the uncertainty of what the next season might bring, the charity says the pressures of farming can take a heavy toll.

Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

And while farmers are renowned for rolling up their sleeves and getting on with the job, Rural Aid says they shouldn’t have to face their toughest times alone.

The organisation’s new Carry the Weight appeal aims to ensure farming families have someone in their corner when adversity strikes, providing everything from hay and financial assistance to disaster recovery and mental health support.

Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said supporting farmers when the pressure mounts was something all Australians could get behind.

“Farmers do so much for all of us, and when dealing with adversity, they need Australians in their corner too,” Mr Warlters said.

“A donation can help provide hay when there is no feed for livestock, financial assistance when a family is under pressure, help after a disaster or mental health support when someone needs it.

“Please stand with our farming families and help carry the weight.”

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters | Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

Rural Aid supports farmers, their families and rural communities through drought, fire, flood and other disasters, delivering practical assistance, financial help, mental health services and community development programs.

For Queensland farmer Tanya Bertram, that support arrived when dry conditions took a devastating toll on her 250-acre property at Dalveen.

With the creek running dry and livestock still needing to be fed, the family faced the prospect of months of costly hand-feeding.

“We’ve still got possibly six months that we’re going to be hand feeding livestock. That’s quite costly,” Ms Bertram said.

Rural Aid stepped in with hay and financial assistance to help the family keep its cattle going.

Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

For Ms Bertram, the reason Australians should support farmers is simple.

“This is where your food comes from,” she said.

“Our sheep go to markets, they go to the butchers, they go to your supermarkets.

“If you can support Rural Aid, please do. It means a lot to farming families knowing there’s someone there when things get tough.”

Image: Supplied/Rural Aid Australia

Hundreds of kilometres away at Chinchilla, cattle farmer Les Mayer experienced a very different crisis when a severe storm tore through his property.

Within the space of an hour, the storm destroyed his hay shed, damaged his home and forced his family out.

“It happened within a space of an hour, a quite frightening hour and we haven’t been able to live at home since,” Mr Mayer said.

Image: Supplied/Tim Bateup/Rural Aid Australia

Months later, the family is still working towards returning home.

Rural Aid volunteers have since helped clear the damaged property, taking some of the physical and emotional burden off the family as they rebuild.

“It’s just a big relief that Rural Aid has come and done all this for us,” Mr Mayer said.

Like Ms Bertram, he said the importance of supporting those on the land extended well beyond the farm gate.

“Nobody can survive without a farmer. We’ve all got to eat,” he said.

“Your food and your fibre comes from farmers like me.”

You can support the Carry the Weight appeal through Rural Aid’s website or by calling 1300 327 624.

Donations to Rural Aid are tax deductible.