The kind-hearted gesture of one student from Sydney's Anglican Grammar School has enabled Dubbo's Baptist Care Hope Street Community Centre to support struggling farmers.
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A Farmers' Day will be held for families in Tottenham and Gulargambone.
The student from outback NSW, who boards in Sydney, encouraged her school to host a fund-raising event for farmers in our area who are impacted severely by the drought.
Sydney Anglican Grammar School passed the donation of almost $10,000 to Macquarie Anglican Grammar School which then distributed the funds to Dubbo's Baptist Care Hope Street Community Centre.
Baptist Care Hope Street Community Centres and western cluster manager Karen Windley said they targeted Tottenham and Gulargambone because they had connections with many farmers in those areas and are aware of how bad their communities were being affected.
"We contacted farmers in the communities and asked them what they wanted us to put the money towards and they asked for us to put on a family day for farmers to get their minds off the devastating drought," Ms Windley said.
"So we've organised for the communities to come out to a farm in Tottenham and we will have a barbecue, drinks, nibbles, a jumping castle, a merry-go-round, games, fairy-floss, ice cream and a bit of a celebration at the end. We also have gift bags for the farmers with things like fuel vouchers and our workers will be there to offer ongoing support."
The rest of the money will go to the families.
"A lot of these farming families have major health issues, they're suffering the loss of a loved one or another traumatic event which would happen inevitably, but then with the impacts of the drought on top of that it's just devastating," Ms Windley said.
"We will have farmers that drop down to the centre or call us, farming wives that will often call us in tears saying their husband has been out from dusk till midnight just trying to feed their stock and get things together. It's quite an isolating feeling."
She said having someone to talk to made a huge difference.
Ms Windley hopes to lift the spirits of the communities and show them there is support.
"The results of the impact of the drought goes right through these communities. It dribbles down to retail and coffee shops too. So to be able to go to them and say 'here we go' is really fulfilling."
Anyone who would like to donate should contact Ms Windley at KWindley@baptistcare.org.au.