January 28, 2015

Longreach District Drought Relief comes to Community Bank AG.Trade.Life 2015

Rotary Club Pioneer Valleys initiative, the Longreach District Drought Relief project, has taken up an
invitation by CANEGROWERS Mackay to attend the organisations third annual agricultural exhibition,
Community Bank AG.Trade.Life 2015.
Organisers of the tri-regional agricultural exhibition, at the Mackay Showgrounds on May 1 and May 2,
welcome the partnership, and the opportunity to pave the way for more assistance farmers helping
graziers for the drought-ridden regions of Longreach and surrounds.
Longreach District Drought Relief project manager Ron Poulsen and Rotary Club Pioneer Valley president
Murray Gibbs thanked CANEGROWERS Mackay for the opportunity to raise further awareness and help.
We are one of the smallest clubs in the Mackay District, and we are grateful for the assistance we have
been given to lend support to those crippled by the recent long dry spell, which already spans a couple of
years, Mr Poulsen said.
The Rotary Club Pioneer Valley took the first steps to initiating the project following a story told by one of its
members about how he had lost a mate a grazier at Longreach.
It is a tragic story his mate tried to get his cattle agisted, but they wouldnt load them because they were
too weak and the risk of them dying during transport was very high, Mr Poulsen said.
The grazier was stricken, with nowhere else to turn. He went back to his farm house, picked up a rifle and
shot all of his cattle he then took his own life.
Mr Poulsen said since they had begun the program, they had heard of two other similar tragic tales.
We made a decision there and then, as a club, to try to help these graziers, and we have been very
fortunate with donations of grass suitable for cutting and bailing for hay.
To date we have transported 1410 x 1.2m round bales of hay to the Longreach district, he said.
Mr Poulsen said the club had hosted three hay days August and November to Longreach, and
November to Ilfracombe.
As any primary producer knows, the weather can be cruel or kind, and drought and flood can take years to
recover from, he said.
Mr Poulsen said the club was looking forward to being a part of Community Bank AG.Trade.Life 2015 at
Mackay Showgrounds on May 1-2.
I look forward to providing updates as we move towards the May event, Mr Poulsen said.
In the meantime, if anyone would like to assist, please contact: Ron Poulsen 0427 157 499.
CANEGROWERS Mackay is a proud supporter of this initiative, and is:

Providing a free of charge site to the Rotary Club Pioneer Valley at AG.Trade.Life 2015
Named the Longreach Districts Drought Relief initiative as the beneficiary for the Central Signs Supporters of
Agriculture Business Cows initiative.
Providing promotional support
Helping to raise awareness of the initiative to assist impacted graziers
Providing details regarding how visitors to AG.Trade.Life can help at the event.

Compiled by Sonia Ball, CANEGROWERS Mackay. P: 0427 178 370 sonia_ball@canegrowers.com.au