South Burnett grazier Kate Cosh’s Farm Angels rescue after year from hell
A Queensland farmer's world collapsed when drought, paralysis ticks and multiple sclerosis struck within 12 months, but intervention from Farm Angels saved her.
As experienced grazier Kate Cosh spoke from her property in the South Burnett, a literal storm was tearing through the region, driving rain and wind horizontally at the walls of her home.
But for the 47-year-old single mother and full-time farmer, this was just weather; she had already weathered a much more personal and perilous journey.
In 2021, following a divorce, Kate purchased a bare block of land in Kingaroy to start a new life with her two teenage sons and to live her dream.
However, within a single 12-month period, she faced a perfect storm of disasters.
A severe drought hit the region, followed closely by a paralysis tick infestation that decimated her livestock, killing calves, a bull, horse, chooks, and even the cat and dog.
Then Kate received a medical diagnosis that would change her life forever.
After an intense day of work, she suddenly lost her eyesight and she knew something was seriously wrong.
Shortly after, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“All I can tell you is life got very interesting there and pretty tough for a little bit,” she said.
She admits she was in a “really bad way”, yet she hadn’t reached out to anyone for help, and it was actually a friend from Gympie who recognised the danger and contacted Farm Angels (formerly Drought Angels) on her behalf.
For Kate, the intervention was lifesaving.
Farm Angels provided immediate practical support, including vouchers for fuel and a pallet of milk to feed her potty calves, but beyond the financial aid they provided a vital human connection.
“They don’t send you a card and say, ‘Oh, can we help? Here you go, bye’,” she said.
“They’ve actually driven out and sat on my verandah and checked up on me.
“ … You’re talking to someone that understands it … So when you say what you need, they know how to make that happen because the Farm Angels really understand.
“They follow up and you’re not just a number.”
She describes the organisation as part of her “team” — a collective of neighbours, friends, family, and donors who pulled her through the crisis.
Today, Kate’s resilience has paid off.
She sold her initial block and purchased a larger property at Proston, doubling her herd and her country.
While she must now carefully “plan” her energy levels to manage her MS, her passion for the land remains undimmed.
“I’m someone that’s got a lot of drive,” she said.
“And that’s why I’m so grateful for the Farm Angels because this is my passion. I love it.
“Like this is who I am. It’s not a job for me. I enjoy it. I love it.”
Farm Angels Founder Tash Johnston said that while farmers love the natural cycles of the land, those same cycles can become especially challenging when tough conditions strike, and that “every year, farmers work tirelessly to bring Christmas to our homes”.
“And like a lot of our country, the South Burnett region has experienced its fair share of extreme weather these past couple years,” she said.
“Some farmers are still piecing together the impact of last year’s drought, while others are navigating the ongoing cycles of life on the land.”
Farm Angels is aiming to raise $150,000 to support 500 farming families from around the state.
“These are the families who help make Christmas happen,” Ms Johnston said.
“Whether it’s the ham at the centre of your table or the wine in your glass, it’s all thanks to a farmer.
“Our farmers work day in and out, all through the holidays, to ensure our country is fed.
“They deserve to know we’re standing with them.”
As the holiday season approaches, Kate is urging the South Burnett community to support the Farm Angels Christmas Appeal.
She emphasised that for children growing up amid floods, droughts and all the catastrophes that can befall those who rely on the land to make their living, receiving gifts from donors all around the state sent a powerful message that they are not alone and people believe in them.
Her advice to other farmers facing their own breaking point is simple: swallow the pride and make the call.
“It doesn’t matter how big your problem is or how small your problem is … a helping hand can be a lifesaver”.
You can donate to the Farm Angels Christmas appeal here.
New trial for man accused of raping woman during trip away
