AS organisers of this year\u2019s Ballarat Show try and pivot the event back to its local and regional agricultural roots, they are also thinking about our primary producers further afield.<\/p>\n
While rainfall is down pretty much across the country, there are huge sections of the nation that are doing it incredibly tough, and that\u2019s where you can help.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society is partnering with Drought Angels in a fundraiser that directly recognises the contribution of each donation.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything will go direct to the farmers,\u201d said Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society executive officer Lucy Quartermain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a judge here in tears on Friday night and she family have had to use Drought Angels, so it\u2019s going to touch people\u2019s hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally conceived as a Facebook photo competition, the fundraiser has gone onto grow to its current form.<\/p>\n
A 20m wall in the Ram Shed has been given over to the project.<\/p>\n
There, along with printed photos sent through as part of the Facebook competition, show goers can by a star, write their name on it and have it hung on the wall.<\/p>\n
The stars range from $100 to $5 and are tax deductable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you purchase one you get your name on the wall of fame,\u201d said Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society president Geoff Fisken.<\/p>\n
The need for the money raised for Drought Angels is great.<\/p>\n
Both Ms Quartermain and Mr Fisken have ties to some of the worst affected and said the impact of the drought is unimaginable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s shocking,\u201d Ms Quartermain said. \u201cMy husband is a wool broker and normally he goes to visit his clients and this year he\u2019s making extra trips to make sure his clients are alive because the suicide rate is horrendous at the moment up there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s bare, it\u2019s drought, it\u2019s horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
It may be a clich\u00e9, but also truism, but country people look after each other.<\/p>\n
So while the Ballarat region may have escaped the dire conditions in other parts of the country, all it takes is a few seasons of failed rain and we could be in exactly the same situation those up north are experiencing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat\u2019s been very lucky,\u201d Mr Fisken said. \u201cThe drought is moving south and it will impact here sometime but pretty much it\u2019s the Garden of Eden here, compared to just about everywhere else.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re the luck ones this time, next time we might not be so lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS organisers of this year\u2019s Ballarat Show try and pivot the event back to its local and regional agricultural roots, they are also thinking about our primary producers further afield. While rainfall is down pretty much across the country, there are huge sections of the nation that are doing it incredibly tough, and that\u2019s where […]<\/p>\n