Biggenden farmers receive hay, volunteer help

Rural Aid volunteers have been busy in the North Burnett, repairing the flood damage of 2022 and helping prepare farmers for the dry, which is already starting to bite.

Volunteers repair a flood damaged fence in Biggenden

Australia’s most trusted rural charity has helped North Burnett farmers with an army of volunteers and large hay delivery in September 2023.

35 volunteers have worked across six farms in Biggenden, helping to repair flood affected properties.

Local cattle farmer Norm Schonrock went through two floods in a year that took out multiple fences.

“We had a fair bit of fencing down, so the volunteers came and picked up all the old wire that was twisted around posts or lying down because we had cattle getting caught in that,” Norm said.

“All those jobs that we always mean to get done but that don’t take priority, we’re getting a lot of those done now, so it’s really helpful.”

Photos of the South Burnett in flood

The Rural Aid volunteers completed dozens of jobs as part of the Farm Recovery Event, including repairing fences, building ramps and constructing shade sails.

Rural Aid also distributed 112 tonnes of hay between a dozen farmers at the start of the week.

Rural Aid Farm and Community Coordinator Grant Miskimmin noted the area was feeling the dry already, and that the 203 bales would help tide locals over.

“It’s pretty dry around here at the moment, and the farmers are all a bit nervous about what’s ahead of them so it’s a great time to be here and to help them out,” he said.

Rural Aid staff and volunteers in Biggenden 2023

“Farmers find it very difficult to deal with some of these natural disasters,” Grant said.

Biggenden farmers were also gifted lickblocks and Multikraft Probiotic Solutions throughout the week.

The volunteers stayed at the Biggenden showgrounds and worked on properties between Monday, September 25 and Friday, September 29, inclusive.

Find out more at www.ruralaid.org.au