FROM the lounge room of her farmhouse between Ariah Park and Coolamon in the Riverina, Sarah McCaig is driving the latest initiative to raise awareness of the ongoing effects of drought.
And the message is simple – let’s talk.
Rewinding to a childhood spent on a property between Cowra and Canowindra in the Central West, Mrs McCaig said dances and balls drew the farming community to a communal social event.
A longing to return to the traditional concept has inspired her to get the ball rolling on bringing people together to talk about the hardships that stem from life on the land.
Raising three young children in a rural area has been challenging for Mrs McCaig and her husband Andrew.
“It’s been hard for us; just because we aren’t drought-declared doesn’t mean we aren’t struggling,” she said.
“Some people lost 100 per cent of their crops to frost around this area and that hits hard.
“I’m a mum and a wife – I’m not special but it only takes one person to stand up.”
A Sunday Night program by reporter Alex Cullen about the drought which aired in early March, prompted Mrs McCaig to take action.
“I was in tears,” she said.
“Because I think all farmers can relate to the hardship.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a drought year or not, there are always hard times, whether the cattle market is depressed or lambs are selling high, nothing is ever going well all at once.
“But it’s the trickle-down effect of not talking – that’s when problems end up being big issues.”
The power of the internet has driven the project.
More than 2000 people had logged on and shown their support within two days of setting up a page for the Bale Out Ball initiative.
That figure is now pushing 5000.
“We need to get people together again to start talking and the best way to get the message across was in cyberspace,” Mrs McCaig said.
“From there it has run with word of mouth.”
The Bale Out Ball concept invites young and old from across the country to think up a community get together, whether it be a dance, a sporting event or a barbecue.
Money raised will go to Buy A Bale, Aussie Helpers and back in to the host community.
“We’ll move to each little community and they’ll reap the benefits of holding an event,” Mrs McCaig said.
“It’s working to put dollars back in to the community as well as bringing it local – we have to stop and help each other.
“With the three outlets I hope the donations will be spread out and everybody can find a little bit of relief in what we’re trying to do.
“If we can put a smile on one person’s face we’re doing well.”
A fifteen-strong committee has been formed in the Coolamon region to kick start the Bale Out Ball.
A cricket day was to be held between Methul and Rannock last weekend however 51 millimetres of rain across two days saw the event changed.
“The rain was fantastic and instead of running around a cricket ground we had tractors roaring in the paddock putting crops in,” said the initiative’s founder Sarah McCaig.
Mrs McCaig said instead there was a bit of a get together held in Coolamon which which attracted about 20 people.
The cricket day will be rescheduled following a committee meeting this week, Mrs McCaig said.
She said the local group were now working toward a Christmas In July themed ball.
“We brainstormed and in the Coolamon and Wagga region there were about 15 halls that we could hold such an event,” she said.
“That’s how we socialised when we were younger, and our parents and grandparents and so on traditionally attended balls and dances.
“It’s about bringing family off farms to come together and give them something to look forward to when things are a bit tough.