How downing a schooner delivers water to our farmers
Diehard barflies might think it an atrocity but clubs around the state have begun turning beer into water. In a well-thought out plan, drinkers can contribute $1 from the sale of every schooner towards buying water for drought-ravaged farmers.
NSW
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Diehard barflies might think it an atrocity but clubs around the state have begun turning beer into water.
But in a well-thought out plan that will leave no glass empty, lovers of a nice cold one will still be able to have their beer and drink it too.
At Club North Haven on the state’s north coast, $1 from the sale of every schooner is now put towards buying water for drought-ravaged farmers.
And punters have backed the idea in droves, with the club selling 1800 beers above average over the past three weeks. The program is now rolling out in clubs statewide.
Farmers can be nominated anonymously to receive the water donation, which came as a huge surprise to dairy farmer Carissa Wolfe.
“I feel the biggest difference this campaign is making is that we know that people are paying attention to what we’re going through and how much they care,” Ms Wolfe said.
“People from outside our friendship group saw the need and they’re pitching in a doing something about it. They’re giving things away to help us, and we are very grateful.”
Ms Wolfe said she didn’t know who nominated her farm but the water had been a godsend.
“Ever since we’ve been on the farm we have had the extremes of the weather. For the first six years we had average annual amounts of rain but only in one or two bursts. Then for the last two years we’ve been in severe drought.
“We are owner operators and that means every penny goes towards the animals. When we bought water we didn’t spend our money on the house, or use the water for the showers, laundry or flushing the toilet.”
ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said Litres for the Land will help those who need it.
“We have more than 700 of our clubs in areas impacted by drought, so it’s very much front of mind for our industry,” said ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball.
“Clubs have been leading the charge on drought relief initiatives for the past 18 months, but the provision of water has been one of the key challenges.”
The program started off the back of an initiative by Club North Haven, on the state’s mid coast.
“We were sitting around talking about what we could do to help our farmers, and one of my supervisors, Andrew Pratt, suggested we look at supplying them with water,” North Haven secretary manager Peter Negus said.
“Everyone was talking about hay and fodder but we thought we should focus on water.
“I then approached one of our suppliers, Lion, and we came up with the idea of every Lion schooner we sell we will put $1 towards providing water.”
The program is being supported by Team Rubicon Australia, who will help deliver water and tanks to those who need it.
