Sunday Telegraph readers bring Christmas cheer to farmers

The generosity of The Sunday Telegraph readers will bring Christmas cheer to farming families hardest hit by one of the worst droughts on record. FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP

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The generosity of The Sunday Telegraph readers will bring Christmas cheer to more than 100 farming families hardest hit by one of the worst droughts on record.

The Sunday Telegraph has teamed up with farming charity Rural Aid to offer a prepaid gift card that you can buy on behalf of a loved on to brighten the festive season of a farming family, like the Micallefs from Camden.

Grazier Luke Micallef can’t afford to buy his son Will, 4, the presents he asked Santa for, after this year spending $100,000 to keep his small herd of 70 jersey cows alive with hay he wouldn’t typically need to buy. But a gift card will help the family celebrate the day.

Graziers Luke and Jess Micalef recently spent $100,000 keeping their 70 cows alive. Both were unsure how they would afford Christmas presents for children Will, 4, and baby John, nine-months. Picture: Sam Ruttynttyn

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“Our four-year-old wrote his Christmas wishlist in June, but there’s not much in Santa’s budget because all the money we have is being ploughed into the farm,” Mr Micallef, 31, said.

“Christmas is so important to little kids, I’d love to give him the best Christmas possible, but in such a bad drought you just have to cut back wherever you can.”

The veal producer, who can’t remember a worse drought, said a donated Country Card would mean he could spend $200 on his wife Jess, 30, and sons Will and John, 9 months, without withdrawing money from his small business in crisis.

Even with his own finances drying up, Mr Micallef was also worried for rural retailers.

“The most important part of the Country Card is that the money gets spent in community,” Mr Micallef said.

The Micalefs wants to give their children the best Christmas possible. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“The food hampers being sent to farms are much appreciated but there’s no money being spent in the community.”

Since The Sunday Telegraph launched the Country Card last week, $22,250 has been donated to the Country Card cause, of which $6,000 came from $25 donations, $2,500 came from $50 donations and $13,750 came from either $100 or $200 donations.

The Rural Aid Country Card supported by The Sunday Telergaph.

On the latest figure, 110 farmers of the 4500 registered farmers, such as the Micallefs, will receive Country Cards worth $200 in the mail from December 10, inside Christmas Cards made by Sydney schoolchildren.

Students from Sadleir Public School in southwest Sydney have been busy writing and drawing messages of support for NSW farmers, such as Zara who wrote “I hope you keep on having faith because our country never gives up”.

“Dear Farmers, I hope you get rain for the animals and thank your for the food you give us, “ Alexis wrote.

“Farmers are amazing. You’re (sic) job is hard work and this drought is not making it any easier for you.”

Heartfelt messages of support from Sydney schoolchildren.

With Christmas four weeks away, presents are the furthest thing from farmer Ash Whitney’s mind.

After 58 years on the land at Goolhi, west of Tamworth, Mr Whitney is either three inches of rain away from a salvaging his livestock or three weeks away from hitting rock bottom.

“I’ve run out of feed and can’t really afford any more, and if we don’t get three inches between now and Christmas everything will go to shit,” he said.

From a student from Sadleir Public School in Sydney’s south west.

Mr Whitney lives next to the Jones family, who were flooded with donated hay and groceries after The Sunday Telegraph in July reported farmer Les Jones was preparing to shoot 1200 starving sheep he couldn’t afford to feed.

The Jones’ gave Mr Whitney 12 big bales of donated hay, for which he was “very grateful” but it’s long since gone and he still doesn’t have any pasture for his cattle to eat after one of the driest 19-month spells on record.

Goohli farmer Ash Williams is praying for rain and says if it doesn’t fall before Christmas “everything will go to shit”. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Goolhi received 30mm of rain a week ago, which has given Mr Whitney’s farm a green tinge, but the grass is worthless because it’s too short for cattle to eat and will need another 75mm between now and Christmas to withstand the forecast hot and dry summer.

“The green (pasture) is like a carrot being dangled in front of a donkey because it looks beautiful but unless we get follow-up rain very shortly, it will all be wiped out in summer,” he said.

The money loaded on to the Country Cards can be spent at hundreds of country stores.

To buy a Country Card visit rurail.org.au. There is a $2.50 processing fee.