Western Sydney gets behind drought-affected farmers

WHETHER it is at pubs, preschools or golf clubs, western Sydney is throwing its support behind the NSW’s struggling farmers.Several groups have organised fundraisers as part of the Buy A Bale campaign for drought-affected farms.

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WHETHER it is at pubs, preschools or golf clubs, western Sydney is throwing its support behind the NSW’s struggling farmers.

Several groups have organised fundraisers as part of the Buy A Bale campaign, designed to provide much-needed supplies to drought-affected farms.

Plumpton Hotel is one that will host the Parma for a Farmer event, jumping on to support Jodi Bennett-Hillier’s Aussie Helpers fundraiser on Sunday, September 23.

Plumpton Hotel manager Belinda Lownes with Jodi Bennett-Hillier ahead of Parma for a Farmer. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Ms Bennett-Hillier grew up in Scone, in the Upper Hunter Valley, and has seen the devastation it has caused her home town.

“You could see it steadily getting worse,” she said.

“It’s a dust bowl up there. It’s horrific.”

The hotel will donate $2 for signature food and cocktail sales and there will be raffles and live music.

A cow in a barren field in the Hunter Valley. Picture: Supplied

“I’d like to raise as much as I can,” Ms Bennett-Hillier said. “The farmers need to know the people in the city are thinking about them.”

Playdays Preschool & Day Care Centre at Acacia Gardens held its Buy A Bale event last Friday. Children dressed up in cowboy and cowgirl outfits as they were paid a visit by Kindifarm Petting Zoo.

Manager Charmaine Muscat said the aim was to raise enough money to buy six or seven hay bales.

Families donated $10 each to see the animals, with about 60 families in attendance.

“The kids really got into the spirit of it,” she said.

Acacia Gardens’ Playdays Preschool & Day Care Centre held its fundraiser on Friday. Charlotte Green, 4, fees a kid goat. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Charlotte, Emily Perkins, 3, Charlie Lloyd, 4, and Jessica Francis, 5. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club is running an ongoing donation campaign for over-the-bar purchases while Seven Hills North Public School has organised a country-themed mufti day on Wednesday, August 22.

And Whalan Public School raised more than $1200 via a Fiver For A Farmer day last Wednesday.

DETAILS

The Buy A Bale website.

Plumpton Hotel Facebook page.

The Aussie Helpers website.

The Stone Cutters Ridge Golf Club website.