Rebecca Baker: The drought’s hurting our kids too

IT WAS a story on ABC radio involving a town called Rudall — or ROO-dowl as it is apparently pronounced — that provided Rebecca Baker with a healthy dose of before-work reality.

IT WAS a story on ABC radio involving a town called Rudall — or ROO-dowl as it is apparently pronounced — that provided me with a healthy dose of before-work reality.

I, typically frazzled and late for work, was frantically attempting to look semi presentable for the day post school drop offs.

I was slapping make-up on in the carpark and working through how I’d manage the kids’ afterschool activities, do what I needed to in the office, and get washing done and dry that night.

On the car radio, a newsreader was telling how near-drought conditions in parts of Eyre Peninsula had forced a long-running children’s sporting event — the Mangalo Mini Colts and Junior Netball Carnival — to move from the local oval to nearby Rudall due to the state of its “dry prickle-riddled oval”.

RUDALL — EYRE PENINSULA

The story, which aired days before the Federal Government announced its $190 million drought relief plan, quickly brought me back to earth, reminding me of the world beyond my own.

It’s easy while living in the city to forget the challenges of life in the bush — and that many people simply don’t give a rodent’s butt if the tram ever gets to turn right on to King William St or not.

As, for many, there are more pressing issues closer to home.

And I am not just talking about if it rains or not, if the season is kind or cruel.

I’m talking about the everyday issues in an average year that can too easily be overlooked when you live hundreds of kilometres from a capital city.

The choice to pick a school for your kids (and to swap if you aren’t happy), to see a doctor you like (and not be in a nightmare situation where you don’t know if there’ll even be a medico to help when you need it) and simply visit a bricks and mortar bank.

Or to access specialist support when you need it and have a home for your elderly loved-ones to go where they’ll be well cared for when they — or you — can no longer.

In too many rural and regional areas, getting access to basic things is becoming increasingly difficult and too often the voices of those living outside the city limits go unheard despite how important the rural sector is to Australia — in 2016-17 the gross value of farm production was $60 billion.

Farmers and rural people are, of course, as diverse, varied and complex as any community — some are incredibly progressive and technologically savvy, others are not.

But mostly parents in the bush are like mums and dads anywhere and just want the best for the children and the chance to provide them as many opportunities and experiences as possible.

In the past few days it’s become on-trend to talk about farmers and the plight many rural people are facing due to devastating drought.

But it’d be nice to think when prospects in the bush improve, there’ll still be interest in what is happening.

It is for this reason regional media and news outlets are so vital — we need to do what we can to ensure the stories only grassroots rural journos bring to us continue to be heard.

Both the stories that make us laugh, and cry.