Desperate farmers in New South Wales will receive a helping hand from Rotary Tasmania.
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Rotary Tasmania’s district governor Ross Carlyle has urged all Rotary clubs in Tasmania to dig deep and find funds to support the farmers suffering from drought in NSW.
The challenge has already been accepted by two Rotary clubs, with southern-based club Sorell and North-West based club Somerset both pledging $2000 each to the effort.
Mr Carlyle said Rotary was all about helping communities in need.
“It’s very clear that there are farmers who are in need at the moment,” he said.
“A lot of people are doing it really tough over there.”
The drought is impacting 99.8 per cent of the state, and the lack of rain has lead to crippling conditions for many primary producers.
At the start of the year, television personality Grant Denyer and his wife Chezzi signed on to be ambassadors for Rural Aid, to help raise awareness to the plight of farmers and raise funds during their time of need.
Mr Carlyle said it wasn’t a difficult decision to decide to assist the drought effort, because of the club’s strong community ties over the water.
“We had clubs from over there [mainland] help us out when we were struggling, with the floods and bushfires, so this is where we can help out,” he said.
Rotary is a service organisation, with about 46 clubs in Tasmania conducting fundraising activities throughout the year.
It’s very clear that there are farmers who are in need at the moment.
- Rotary district governor Ross Carlyle.
Those funds are then distributed to local, national and international projects.
Rotary Club of Sorell president Nick Nermut said the pledge of $2000 had been made at his club this week.
“A lot of our members come from rural areas, and know what it’s like to be a farmer in need,” he said.
“They are farmers themselves, so want to help others when they can.”
Sorell also threw down the challenge to other clubs to support the effort.
He said the pledge would go to a discussion at the Rotary clubs’ next meeting, but he had already spoken to some board members who had supported the idea.
Individuals and Rotary clubs can support the drought relief by donating through the Rotary Australia World Community Service portal. Donations can be made online through the RAWCS website.