Queensland Drought Appeal: Shane Webcke’s plea for help

QUEENSLAND and Broncos legend Shane Webcke knows all too well how tough things can be in the bush when drought bites.

QUEENSLAND and Broncos legend Shane Webcke knows all too well how tough things can be in the bush when drought bites.

Shane Webcke wants people to dig deep for the drought appeal. Picture: Lisa Alexander

The former footballer works the family farm near Leyburn, southwest of Toowoomba, in between presenting the sport on Channel 7.

Webcke knows farmers are suffering badly but he reckons for all the downsides of drought, it does bring out the best in people.

“Such is the empathy of the Australian people, they put their hands in their pockets for farmers,” Webcke said ahead of the Channel 7 televised appeal on Saturday.

“That people care enough to donate gives people a lift. It helps.”

Webcke said the structure of the appeal, with the Country Women’s Association helping make sure the money is spent in local towns, was ­essential to keeping them alive until the next rains.

“Every dollar sent will be spent three or four times as it goes around the block.”

He urged Queenslanders on the coast to consider a country holiday or road trip to help inject funds.

The Palaszczuk Government on Sunday announced it had commissioned a review of the Drought Program, to improve resilience and assistance for farmers in future droughts.

The Queensland Drought Appeal, organised by the CWA with backing from the Commonwealth Bank, Channel 7 and The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, has so far raised $1.28 million.