Natasha Johnston named The Courier-Mail Queenslander of the Year 2021
Natasha Johnston has raised more than $20 million and helped more than 4000 farming families after she heard one farmer’s tragic story. Now she’s been named Queenslander of the Year.
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When Natasha Johnston started raising money for farming families affected by drought she had no idea how much her humble charity would take off.
It was 2014 when the Chinchilla local and her colleague, Nicki Blackwell, launched Drought Angels.
The two expected the fundraising drive night to last six months and help families in the most dire situations.
Seven years on and the charity has raised over $20 million and helped more than 4000 farming families.
It’s for this incredible effort that Ms Johnston has been voted the winner of The Courier-Mail Queenslander of the Year by a panel of eminent Queenslanders, including 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, and former Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson.
Since 2014 Ms Johnston has dedicated her life to the cause, providing aid in the North Queensland floods in 2019, Australia’s Black Summer in 2020 and more recently throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
She has helped put meals on the table for thousands of Australians through fundraising, securing corporate partnerships and launching merchandise and charity shops.
Ms Johnston said there are many heartwarming moments, but the job could also be bittersweet.
“There was one predominant story that stood out to me that made me really want to act and do something,” she said.
“It was a Queensland farmer struggling with drought in 2014, unable to sell his stock, who decided to shoot his animals, his working dogs and then turned the gun on himself.
“When I heard that kind of story I just needed to do something to stop another farmer from taking their life and another family from losing their dad, their husband,” Ms Johnston said.
She described being named The Courier-Mail Queenslander of the Year as an “absolute honour” and hoped her recognition would help give farmers a voice.
“This all started with a farmer taking his own life. He inspired me to help the lives of others and to ensure his life wasn’t lost in vain.
“(The award) is an honour and I’m grateful people recognise how important it is to give farmers a voice.”
Ms Johnston said Drought Angels was different from many charities because the support would continue after an initial disaster, tailored to an individual’s needs.
“The first part of it is sad, because when they’re registered with us they’re telling us their story, their circumstances, it’s not only drought, fire or flood it’s everything that comes with it,” she said.
“We had one of our fire impacted families whose son sadly took his life six months after the fires. It’s not just the actual disaster itself.
“We had one family, the mother was registering with us to get food vouchers because she was saving her farmers household allowance to try to save for a new refrigerator.
“We said we’d absolutely help with the food vouchers but how about we buy a new fridge too.”
In April alone, Drought Angels had a total of 199 individual donors and 217 total volunteer hours, raising $64,150 within the month for direct financial assistance for farmers.
Ms Johnston runs the charity alongside her husband Steele Johnston and her lifelong friend Jenny Gailey, with plans to continue their work for years to come.
“We’ve had rain but we’re in a green drought. It does rain but it doesn’t rain cash, cows and crops for our farmers, it takes years to recover,” she said.
“The demand is definitely still there.”
The charity has also had to be flexible when it came to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it hit and Drought Angels were no longer able to create hampers for hygiene reasons, Ms Johnston pivoted the charity to cater for new requirements.
“Most of our fundraising came from the Australian public, people would do fundraisers for us to raise money and then when Covid happened that couldn’t happen,” she said.
“People would do food collections for us but then COVID hit that couldn’t happen so we’ve got our own online supermarket.
“Community groups needed assistance so we made emergency COVID packs and delivered them to the community within Chinchilla, like Meals on Wheels.”
Ms Johnston said Drought Angels wouldn’t be possible without volunteers.
“Most of our volunteers have been with us for years, they’ve come with us until today because they share our passion about our farmers,” she said.
QUEENSLANDER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
- LLOYD AND SUE CLARKE:
The Clarkes have advocated for victims of domestic violence through the Small Steps 4 Hannah foundation, set up in memory of their daughter Hannah and grandchildren who were killed by Hannah’s abusive ex-partner and the children’s father.
- PAUL DELLIT:
The QPAC producer and Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund president helped raise half a million dollars to support actors and entertainers who had lost their livelihoods during the pandemic.
- GRAHAM SHARRY:
A Surf Life Saving Queensland volunteer for 30 years, he led the search efforts for Kyle Schroduer at Coolumn Beach and voluntarily runs the after-hours emergency call service.
- MARK WHEELER:
Former Gold Coast police chief oversaw the 292-day border blockade credited with keeping the state largely COVID-free.
- NATASHA JOHNSTON
Raised $20 million and assisted more than 4000 families since setting up Drought Angels seven years ago to help farmers struggling with drought.
- TAMIKA SMITH:
Organised the building of a house for the three young children of Kelly Wilkinson, who was allegedly killed by her estranged husband on the Gold Coast.
THE JUDGES
UQ Professor Ian Frazer, Australian of the Year 2006
(These) individuals are making sustained and outstanding contributions to the welfare of Queensland and Queenslanders, above and beyond what might be expected.
We were impressed by the stories of the shortlisted candidates, each working in their own way to reduce the impact of significant issues affecting everyday Queenslanders everyday: domestic violence, the drought, the impact of Covid, and its effects on those most vulnerable through the nature of their employment, and on those putting the extra effort into their daily business despite new challenges.
Kay McGrath, 7NEWS presenter and campaigner against domestic violence
Natasha demonstrates the same Aussie spirit, determination and resilience of those doing it tough in the bush.
By easing pressure on families, Drought Angels are lessening the chance of domestic and family violence and mental health issues in the bush.
Natalie Cook OAM, five-time Olympian
I really admire Natasha’s relentless commitment to the land and our farmers, and therefore all Australians. She is an angel.
And Paul’s passion for the arts is inspiring.
I really feel for the performers and artists who have been impacted by Covid, and it is close to home as we have the same situation for our athletes on the journey to Tokyo.
Thanks Paul and keep up the amazing work.
Sallyanne Atkinson AO, first female Lord Mayor of Brisbane
The finalists were all such impressive people and doing such impressive things. Most of them we never hear about. So the Queenslander of the Year is an important chance to recognise and pay tribute to these heroes of our state.
John Kotzas, QPAC chief executive
All six finalists under consideration have demonstrated boundless energy to support individuals within a broader commitment to the community.
Natasha offers an outstanding example of how one person’s actions cannot only lead to a genuine difference in the lives of others, but also serve as an inspiration and a challenge for all of us to work towards a better world.
Chris Jones, The Courier-Mail editor
The Courier-Mail Queenslander of the Year award is designed to celebrate the achievements of those leaders in our community who inspire us all to be better.
This year’s six finalists would all have been worthy winners, and the judging discussion was consequently a seriously inspiring conversation.
I wish we could have had six winners, but Natasha deserves it - her achievements are amazing, and she is making a real difference.
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