The Wellington Arts and Crafts Club have rallied together and raised money for drought-affected farmers in the region.
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The club pooled together $1000 for the Geurie Lions Club Need For Feed pay drive, which will help pay for half a semi-trailer load of hay to help a number of farmers in the region.
Club member Ruth Haynes said the club wanted the people in and around Wellington who are struggling to know that their community are supporting them.
Arts and Craft club vice president Lynne Munro pitched the idea to president Hazel Nokes and they put it to the members at their next meeting.
“Locally people are hurting, there’s more and more farmers dying, there’s people you know that are wondering how they’re going to go on,” Ms Munro said.
She said that supporting farmers throughout the drought was important because of the flow on effect for the community and local business if farmers lose their livelihoods.
“We’re just trying to do something, unfortunately its only a little something,” she said.
We realise you can donate to other places and while it’s good the money is going thre, we wanted to make sure the money stay’s as local as possible.
“We also want anyone who is struggling with the drought to know they can come in here, and have a cup of tea and a chat for a social thing. That’s important, some people are very isolated, so please know that we are here.
Club president Hazel Nokes said the club all thought the idea was wonderful.
“Once the members knew about the idea, it only took a couple of weeks to raise this money,” she said.
“I thought if we do it, as a small group, maybe other groups around here in the same situation may be able to do something similar,” Ms Nokes said.
Geurie Lions Club treasurer Anne Jones thanked the members on behalf of the club for their efforts to raise the money.
“For those farmers who have been affected by the drought, let me say thank you, its really wonderful you ladies have supported them,” Ms Jones said.
She said the money was important considering the widespread affect of drought.
“If this drought continues for some time yet, what we’re talking about is a possible collapse of our agricultural sector,” Ms Jones said.
“It’s already affecting our local community, look at Wellington and Dubbo, they are already feeling it.
“If the farmers don’t survive, local business wont and as a result the local community wont … where are we then?”
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