Rotary club pitches in to help local drought affected families

Rotary Club of Cobar member Gordon Hill (second from left) helped to organise the delivery of a load of fodder to help out Tilpa area graziers last week. Photo contributed

Members of the Rotary Club of Cobar are doing their bit assisting local farming families doing it tough during the current drought.

Rotary Club secretary Gordon Hill said the club has been working behind the scenes over the past couple of months with local drought relief efforts including organising grocery packs, dog food and drinking water to be sent to farmers on request.

“This work has been part of a local Rotary Project called ‘Waiting for rainy days’ which has allowed the club to reach out to local farmers offering them help during the present severe drought conditions,” Mr Hill said.

Grocery packs were created from a shipment of food from a Lions Club in Victoria donated to Cobar Shire Council and packed by Rotary Club and Copper City Men’s Shed members.

“Some 50 grocery packs have now been delivered to local and wider area farmers in need by volunteers,” Mr Hill said.

The club will continue to look at providing further packs for farmers with funds from Rotary sources and other donations.

Mr Hill said in addition to organising and delivering assistance packages, the club has also been able to source some fodder for farmers in the Tilpa area following a request made at a recent social night for farmers.

“Cobar Rotary was able to source funding from the Rotary District 6970 RAWCS RAB Project for two road trains of fodder for Tilpa and the first road train loaded with 82 large bales rolled into Tilpa last Friday to the delight of the Tilpa farmers.

“Another road train is expected to deliver another load of fodder to Tilpa next week,” Mr Hill said.

“The possibility of further fodder deliveries is currently being explored by Cobar Rotary.”