Dry Time Dinners will be the mechanism Southern New England Landcare employs to support local farmers using money pledged by the Northern Yarra Landcare Network in Victoria.
Southern New England Landcare was contacted last week by Mr John Birse, president of the Northern Yarra Landcare Network.
“At our recent AGM, we decided to assist drought-affected farmers in NSW by donating $1000 of our own funds,” said Mr Birse.
“We wanted the funds to go to a local landcare network because we knew that they would know the best way to assist – landcare is all about local people working together to solve local issues,” he said.
Mrs Karen Zirkler, Executive Officer at Southern New England Landcare, took the call from Mr Birse last week.
“I was a bit speechless to think that a random landcare network from another state would ring us out of the blue and offer assistance,” said Mrs Zirkler, “but we quickly began a like-minded, enjoyable conversation.”
“I think there is a lot of potential for our two networks to form a strong and supportive long-term relationship,” she said.
Mr David Henderson, president of Southern New England Landcare thanked Mr Birse, saying, “People, like the Northern Yarra Landcare Network, are amazing at times like this; their support and generosity are a beautiful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.”
Southern New England Landcare will match the donation with a further $1000 and provide 10 $200 ‘Dry Time Dinner’ vouchers for use by groups of 10 neighbours at local venues in Guyra, Uralla and Walcha. The dinners will be coordinated by Southern New England Landcare members, but open to groups of 10 neighbours who may or may not be members.
The aim of the dinners will be to give farmers a well-earned night out to connect with and support their neighbours, and at the same time, support a local business who may also be feeling the effects of the drought.
Download a flier here. Landcare Members who wish to be Hosts should navigate to our Dry Time Dinners Events page. Offer valid 1 September - 30 November 2018.
