What's a Drought?

As you listen to the news you will, of course, have been hearing about a drought that has hit in the North West of NSW and Southern parts of Queensland. 

Those of you who, like me, live in the areas caught in the drought know what it looks like and its effects on daily life. But as I have also spent time in the city and on the coast I know it is sometimes hard to envision life with little to no rain. 

I’d like in this blog to try and give you some image of Drought, not an expert opinion, just some images, to help you focus your prayers, and your mind, as to what it is.

 Flood is an element of nature that comes with a rush, you can build walls around sheds and move homes to higher ground. A fire can also be fought. Drought often goes on for a long, long time. It is something you get ready for- resources are stored up, if you can; above ground dams are made; bigger bores are dug deeper; stock are sold off, if you get in early and the stock are ready.( But how many to you sell or keep?)

These are things many farmers did after the last one but when the rain does not come in the right amount again.....!?
For us city folk rain is rain but on the farm you need 2 kinds of rain- “soaking rain” good for crops and grass and then there’s “run off rain” that fills the tanks, dams and our rivers.

Cattle on "the long paddock".

Farms need a balance over the year to get back from drought. This just has not happened. The rains have been hit or miss in many areas of the North West.

Some areas of NSW did well- down South - for example. But here in the NorthWest, there was, in many areas, no rain last year to plant a crop.  Sadly some country had enough to plant but not enough to make it grow so not only “no crop” but a bill for planting and loss of seed for next time. This drought is hitting cattle and sheep farmers as well as crop farmers. To sell your stock off you risk getting little to no money. Some put their stock on the road.

Droving has come back with a bang but the stock routes look like mowed lawns as hundreds of hungry sheep and cows munch their way along the roadside - plus what do they drink? 

Out here a drought is not just a few days or weeks or months. At home the house tanks would be dry so farmers buy water by the truck load. We in towns get upset with water restrictions! For the people on the land it not the lawn, it is their livelihood; not just a job but a way of life! 

Breeders of livestock care deeply about their herds, dogs and stock horses. They love the land they have built up to grow food and fibre to feed and clothe us.

But it does not end at the farm gate. This flows on into the towns. Drought hits every business, not just Agra- business, all the shops suffer. You may have goods going out but often it’s on the account. Drought dries up not just the land but can dry up communities.   There are lots of sad things that happen that I’m not going into here. We hear lots in the news and other media. These are the hard things a farmer has to work out and through.
There are many people who, like Julie and I, visit and run events. 

This is what we’ll be doing over the coming weeks, attending community events. Some we will set up, others we be part of.

Good Day Out -Weilmoringle 2013

What do we do?

We listen- allow people space to share. Isolation is the biggest problem -self-exile to the farm, not going out, working too hard as you have let the workers go to save money. Just getting people to talk to one another gives them the knowledge that it not” just ME! “

We can provide events to bring them out- not self-help groups but Good Days Out like the one at Weilmoringle, with info and support round a BBQ -a lot can be done.

What can you do? 

Pray for the people who work our farms and those who run business in country towns and villages that they can hang on and know that those in the city’s care

Take holidays in rural towns

Spend money in their shops and coffee shops (If they close!!... err!)

City Churches -Send letters of support to country churches - let them know you’re interested.  Ask them to send you pray points and take on that church as a pray partner.  

Rural Churches -Share your needs or contact the CWA - as many places may not have a worship centre

Give to drought appeals but DON’T send goods unless asked for.

PRAY FOR RAIN

Life is hard but it’s not hard to show we care. All it takes is a few snags, some bread, heaps of laughter, a mouth that’s closed and 2 ears listening.

 Contact Julie or Phill for more information.

Shalom

Phill Matthews