It's almost as if the tap on donated funds had been turned-off on December 31.
- Anne Jones OAM
ONE drought disaster relief project that stands out servicing central NSW is that of Lions International which is based from Geurie Lions Club with assistance from Wellington Lions and more than 600 volunteers donating a total of 4347 hours of their time.
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Since last July 15 more than 4685 bales of hay have been distributed to 554 farming families totalling 1304 made up of 934 adults and 370 children.
Included with the hay was 427 food hampers, 840 stock lick blocks, 5232 soft drinks and water, 554 personal care item packs, 484 dog food packs and 573 Lions Christmas cakes. As well, one tonne of potatoes, and $66,500 worth of shopper gift vouchers and $13,020 fuel cards donated by several leading businesses of Dubbo and surrounds.
Donations of non-perishable items were valued at $107,400, personal care $101,400 while tinned and biscuit dog food amounted to $26,300, soft drinks and water $25,000, Christmas cakes $15,576 from the Australian Lions Foundation to name just a few donors.
At the centre of coordination is husband and wife volunteer team of Anne Jones left above) and Peter Perry (driving the tractor) pictured during a distribution day at their Old Station property depot at Gollan, between Dubbo and Mudgee.
Anne, an Order of Australia Medal recipient for decades of volunteering and service to her community of Wellington, a councillor for nearly 21 years and now Deputy Mayor of the combined Dubbo and Wellington councils, Dubbo Regional Council, is Lions District 201N4 Disaster Alert Chairperson in charge of the Drought Disaster Relief Project.
She had just completed her term as District 201N4 Governor when called-on to oversee the project having been the disaster relief director overseeing Lions funds distribution going back to the 2011 Warrumbungles devastating fires and other disasters since including the Blue Mountains fires and the Forbes flood of 2016.
“I was contacted by District 201N5 Governor Ron Gattone towards the middle of last year asking what the Sydney basin district could do to help their ‘drought stricken cousins’.” Anne said.
“He said the people of Sydney were not aware of the severity of the drought until one of his fellow club members brought it to his attention.
“My reply was that we needed funds to purchase hay and feed to assist those in most need and within weeks of my request the first $5000 was banked.”
With the first $10,000 cash received Anne ordered the first 100 bales of hay from “Need for Feed” organisation in Victoria.
“On July 15 the Lions’ Multiple District, through the Australian Lions Foundation launched the National Drought Appeal and I knew then that there was hope,” Anne said.
As at January 12 this year Lions Clubs International drought disaster relief project had received $1,027,321 made up of $699,497 cash from four Lions districts in NSW and also Tasmania, together with community donations. The Sydney basin district alone has donated more than $150,000 in cash while the Australian Lions Foundation contributed $332,000.
Among volunteers have been teams from Team Rubicon, a defence force veteran-founded non-profit humanitarian aid organisation, donating more than 300 man hours assisting with distribution of hampers and helping farmers tie down their loads.
The Surf Lifesaving Association delivered donated goods in four surf boats back in November. Hay depots have also been established at Trangie, Cobar and Nyngan while hampers have been packed at the Ballimore Hall by CWA and Red Cross members.
As the drought has continued through summer and forecasts of positive precipitation relief are not promising, fellow volunteers pray donations, particularly of cash don’t dry up.
What’s really serious to Anne Jones and others involved is the hope that further support will continue right into 2019 as since Christmas donations have slowed.
“It’s almost as if the tap on donated funds had been turned-off on December 31,” Anne said. “There have basically been only small amounts of donated funds and donated food and personal care items since December 31.
“And if we are to face a severe ongoing drought which is predicted to go down through to June or July at least, how are we going to continue to support our farmers who really are the backbone and the food bowl of our whole nation?
“We as Lions will continue to do everything that we can with the funds that we have available and continue to promote the need out here in the country.
“But I guess there are only so many dollars that the community can give, particularly when you take into account it’s not just the farming community that’s been affected.”
Contact Anne Jones on 026846 6353.
