Big Dry Friday funds help border farmers hold on through another drought

Funds raised through Morgans' Big Dry Friday are helping hundreds of farming families on both sides of the Queensland and New South Wales border as drought tightens its grip on Southern Queensland, the Granite Belt and large parts of Northern NSW.

Rural Aid, one of Big Dry Friday's beneficiaries, is using the funds to deliver hay for livestock, financial assistance, emergency household drinking water and water tanks, along with counselling and wellbeing support. Many producers are already comparing current conditions to the devastating drought years of 2017 to 2019.

"One less thing to worry about"

Owen Wilmot farms at Glen Niven, near Stanthorpe on Queensland's Granite Belt. He first received a water tank enabled by Big Dry Friday and delivered by Rural Aid, and more recently a delivery of hay to help keep his livestock going.

Owen said the tank had improved his water security and meant he had one less thing to worry about, which was an enormous relief mentally. He hopes the hay will mean he won't need to sell more of his remaining livestock, at least in the short term. Owen and his brother Raymond said they were grateful for the support.

Across the border at Bonshaw, NSW, Carl Mansfield and his family also recently received a water tank made possible by Big Dry Friday. Carl said the tank had come as an unexpected surprise and that he was "very grateful for your generosity".

Born out of drought, together again

Big Dry Friday and Rural Aid were both born out of drought, and the two organisations are once again working side by side to support farmers and their families through another big dry.

"The Rural Aid team and I are grateful for the continuing support of Morgans Financial and Big Dry Friday," said John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid.

Brian Sheahan, Morgans Executive Chairman, said: "Big Dry Friday began in 2018 to connect city and country, and stories like Owen's and Carl's show exactly why it matters. Every dollar raised goes to families doing it tough in rural and regional Australia,".

About Big Dry Friday

Big Dry Friday is a Morgans initiative that connects city and country, raising funds to support education, healthcare, mental health and disaster relief in rural and regional Australia. It is held each June and began in 2018. Find out more at bigdryfriday.com.au.