![Bingara's Marlene Brewer was forced to look for off-farm income to try and survive the current dry. Bingara's Marlene Brewer was forced to look for off-farm income to try and survive the current dry.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xv9ANvsWbcwFXF8qYqgkD5/69295ff1-2edb-41e7-958d-aa03c6520247.jpg/r0_0_2784_4170_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Bingara's Marlene Brewer has been doing the same job for 35 years - farming.
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But when her 3600 hectare (9000 acre) aggregation of Allambie and Niambar properties entered a third year of relentless drought earlier this year, she decided to sell the remains of her once 350 head Angus and Charolais breeder herd and find another job to try and keep her operation alive.
Ms Brewer's Facebook call out for help was shared about 12,000 times and gained national attention.
It eventually led her to a job managing a property in Armidale and now working in sponsorship sales for the new benefit program, Farm to Coast.
"I haven't worked for anyone in my life," Ms Brewer said.
"I've been a wool classer, I did a few jobs when I was really young but I'm 56 and I have been self employed for 35 years here.
![Working off-farm to stay alive Working off-farm to stay alive](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xv9ANvsWbcwFXF8qYqgkD5/2df6219a-b5bb-4bfb-839f-29d50de74b9f.jpg/r0_218_4176_2567_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It was a really challenging thing to put my self out there especially with my skill set.
"I got really really down and out selling my cows and thinking I've got no income coming in.
"These cattle out here have got to make bank repayments or meet my fodder bill repayments.
"I don't have a CV, the only thing I am is a farmer and I'm multi skilled but I'm a farmer."
Ms Brewer now spends three days working from her employer's Yamba office base and the remainder from her home helping to gain sponsorship for a benefit program gifting farming families with a free six day holiday.
She also connects with social workers and community groups to help identify prospective farmers.
Ms Brewer, who's son Daniel lives on the neighboring Niambar property, currently has 200 dry cattle on the property that has received just 184 millimetres this year.
She has put faith in historical weather readings for a wet change in February before above average rainfall in June.
![Daniel and Marlene Brewer. Daniel and Marlene Brewer.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xv9ANvsWbcwFXF8qYqgkD5/c07c7b11-a259-4080-aad0-c52913f7d8e2.jpg/r19_1058_2924_2747_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"This whole thing, it's not just my livelihood, it's his (Daniel's) future," Ms Brewer said.
"That's how hard we work to try and keep things going. I think that's what people generally don't see.
"This has been my life for 35 years, I only ever wanted to do a job like this and I love the lifestyle.
"It's been challenging, it's been incredibly character building and it's his future and that is what all swings in the balance of when it will rain."
When the season does finally change Ms Brewer plans to move back into sheep with the property capable of running about 2000 head.
It was traditionally used for sheep breeding but due to the increased workload on her own, Ms Brewer changed to cattle.
"We will be going back into sheep because we are not going to be able to afford cattle," she said.
"The concept is we just trade in sheep, start with wethers."
They will also look to better utilise the wild goats on their property.
Farmers gifted coastal getaway
A new benefit program will gift at least 70 holidays in the next 12 months to farming families like Marlene Brewer, who deserve a reprieve from the lingering drought conditions.
Established by resort owner Mark Mitchell, the program will offer rural families a six day holiday to either Angourie Resort and Spa of the Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort and provide respite against mental and physical stresses of the drought.
The family will also be gifted a $50 fuel card, vouchers to Yamba Cinema and assistance if needed to cover duties on their property while they are away.
Ms Brewer is tasked with managing the giveaway and allocation of holidays while also seeking sponsorship for the program.
As a resort owner and living on the coast, Mr Mitchell said he decided to establish Farm to Coast in September and engaged his accountant and solicitor to balance the books and account for all costs/issues.
"My motivation for this program was the heart felt feeling upon listening to Marlene's issues, faced daily, in the running of her farm in this drought," he said.
"It is absolutely important to let the farmers and the farming community know that there are many people, in the cities, in the coastal areas, and in Australia in general that are with them, through thick and thin and in this time of need."
For more information or to support the program contact the team by emailing farm2coastbenefit@gmail.com