Scarborough man’s journey to drought heartland brings joy to broken families.

A charity drive to drought-stricken farmland west of Toowoomba started out as a trip to let country people know the city hadn’t forgotten them. It turned into a journey that would bring tears to one man’s eyes and change the lives of the children he met.

Scarborough man Brian Catterall has been taking kindness from the coast to the country to help those affected most by the drought. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

It was just days before Christmas 2019 and Brian Catterall was on his way to Karara, west of Toowoomba, with his truck full of goodies to help community reeling from the drought.

He knew all too well how tough the country was doing.

“My wife’s from Dalby so I know what it’s like,” the Scarborough resident said.

But even Mr Catterall, a man who drives a truck emblazoned with the iconic Australian poem “My Country” on it, was shocked.

The road was scattered with dead roos.

“Thousands of them”, he said.

“The land was black and terrible.”

“There was just nothing. No veggie patches. I could just see the state of the farms and I had to stop.”

Mr Catterall was struck by the devastating impacts of the drought on the small towns west of Toowoomba. Image supplied.

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He made it to Karara but it was his stop at the little township of Cecil Plains that hit him hard.

“I ended up going up five long driveways and just asking are you struggling with Christmas,” Mr Catterall said.

The response was overwhelming.

“First they wanted to know if I was selling something and when I said no they said can we ring our neighbours,” he said.

“Next thing people came from everywhere. One man was a disability pensioner and I asked him did need anything for Christmas and he said to be honest I’ve been sitting in my house trying to work out what to have for tea. I’ve had no lunch. I’ve been asking friends for weeks but I couldn’t make the phone call to ring them again.”

“So I said you ring all the people that helped you and tell them to come over. He couldn’t believe it. Then all these people turned up. We had everything for them .... soaps, toilet rolls, beetroot, biscuits, lollies for the kids, poppers. You know people say it’s only a bandaid but sometimes that’s what you need. It gets you through.”

He said listening to the struggle of those living in the western towns was gut-wrenching.

“The first thing these people said was the sadness they were feeling from the animals they’d lost,” Mr Catterall said.

“The entire trip I saw something like 5000 dead kangaroos and maybe two live ones.”

“It really hit home how bad it is. They were struggling.”

“I heard people say if I have to shoot one more cow I’m going to kill myself next.”

Scarborough man Brian Catterall has been taking kindness from the coast to the country to help those affected most by the drought. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

Alongside the Ulysses bike club and Redcliffe Peninsula charity Southern Cross Drought Relief, Mr Catterall said communities were given a little bit of Christmas joy.

“We had cricket bats, footballs, skateboards,” he said.

“One boy took just a soccer ball. I said what else do you want. He said I’ve got a soccer ball. I said you take two or three other things. Take what you want.”

Mr Catterall heading west to help those affected by the drought. Image supplied.

As the enormity of the community’s struggle unfolded in stories of loss and desperation, it was a little nine-year-old girl that really broke Mr Catterall’s heart.

“She was looking at all the gift bags. This all got donated to me. She said there’s something nice in this one can I have this one. I said you get anything you like. She looked at me and she said really. She said it’s been a very long time since I had a present.”

“Then her Mum came over and said she hadn’t had presents for birthdays or Christmas for a few years because things had been so hard.”

“I said there’s a box over there of ribbons and bows – everything a little girl could want - you have as many as you like.”

With a quiver in his voice, Mr Catterall said he was so grateful he’d stopped and turned in to see if anyone needed a hand.

“I just thought it’s so important to let them know the city hasn’t forgotten them,” he said.

Mr Catterall will return to western Queensland in March.

For anyone wanting to help or donate items contact Brian on 0414 902 736 or Joe Jones and Vanessa Emanuel at Southern Cross Drought Relief on 0406 664 395.

Southern Cross Drought Relief is a registered charity.