Inside a town dealing with the drought: How this rural NSW community is struggling

As third-generation businesses close their doors, this small town is struggling with issues they haven’t faced since World World II.

As long as the rain doesn’t fall, the money doesn’t flow. And the drought-stricken town of Quirindi is still struggling, despite some recent downfalls.

As NSW continues to live through one of the worst droughts in 100 years, the effects are being felt beyond the farmer’s gate.

With primary producers buying nothing more than the necessities, it’s the towns in rural areas that are feeling the pinch.

While some local businesses are pushing through in Quirindi, near Tamworth on the Liverpool Plains, others are suffering, and one has even had to close its doors.

The drought forced the cancellation of the local Spring Show, which has been running since 1901. The event — a highlight on the community calendar — hasn’t been cancelled since World War II.

Now cattle leading, show jumping, and Miss Showgirl are a distant memory for the community of the Liverpool Plains.

Show Society President Lindsay Maybury said there were two main reasons for the disappointing decision. Money and time.

Drought-hit Quirindi in August. Picture: Glenn Nicholls/AFP

This is how Quirindi used to look in greener times.

COST OF THE DROUGHT

“It’s a domino effect.” These are the words you hear from everyone in town.

So far this year, Quirindi has received about 200mm of rain — well below average. A typical year would normally see 600-650mm.

This meant barely any winter crops were grown in the district. Dams have been drying up and stock feed has been coming from interstate. The result? Reduced spending in town.

Reilly’s Menswear has been a constant on Quirindi’s main street since 1911. But third-generation owner John Reilly has decided to close his doors in the coming months.

While the menswear shop left its heyday behind several years ago, the drought accelerated the decline in business.

“Dollar-wise, I’ve lost about 50 per cent,” he said.

Every morning before he opens, Mr Reilly can be found sweeping the footpath out the front of his shop. With less and less foot traffic, his daily ritual may just be becoming obsolete.

John Reilly is a third-generation owner of his store but sadly the drought is forcing him out of business. Picture: Alexandra Bernard

A few doors down, business has also been quiet for Furniture One, and manager Wendy Ferry has noticed the absence of people on the street.

“I don’t know how to attract people into the shop if there’s no one walking past,” she said.

Along with several retail outlets around town, the cafes are being affected too.

For the Coffee Pot, the regulars aren’t found as often under the umbrellas on the footpath drinking their morning coffee and munching on scones with jam and cream.

Owner Michelle Border said while business was constant, it was down about 20 per cent, with fewer customers coming in and not as regularly.

And while vegetables are a staple, even grocery stores and wholesalers are facing less demand.

Shaw’s Fruit and Vegetables owner Debbie Shaw said farmers were only buying the basics.

“They’re not spending as much in the shop, entertaining at home or going out to eat, so we’re not supplying as many places,” she said.

Relying 100 per cent on the agricultural industry for his business, North West Farm Machinery owner Roger Moylan is fed up with the Government and said more needed to be done.

“The thing that annoys me is the Government does nothing for small business in these drought-affected towns,” he said.

“They’re out there trying to do something for farmers, but with small business they’re doing nothing.”

North West Farm Machinery owner Roger Moylan says there’s no government support for small businesses struggling through the drought. Picture: Alexandra Bernard

Right now, Mr Moylan said he was running on business from spare parts, but was worried about what would happen if it did not rain soon.

He has 12 staff and they are unsure of the future for themselves and their families.

“Coming down the track, I’m going to have to take them back to a four-day week for a period of time, then a three-day week because if what they say is true and it persists I guess I’ll have to let staff go and try and get through with a skeleton staff,” he said.

“It’s cruel because I’ve spent years, upon years, upon years to get really brilliant staff.

“If it continues on it could become a catastrophe. If it doesn’t rain I hate to think what will happen.”

Other agricultural-reliant businesses are feeling the effects, with grain supplies harder to come by.

Pursehouse Rural and Quirindi Grain and Produce are dealing with grain taking much longer to arrive and costing much more.

Agronomist James Urquart said his business, Nurural, is managing, but he’s worried about the long-term prospects.

“The drought’s put the income back four or five months, but as long as you can handle that you’ll be OK,” he said.

“We’re in a lucky area, but if it doesn’t rain soon it won’t be so good.”

With about 40 per cent of his turnover usually coming from winter crops and a shed full of stock for these that won’t be used until next year, he’s facing a cash flow problem.

Time, and the next decent rainfall, will tell if these businesses make it through.

The town is struggling through the dry conditions. Picture: Glenn Nicholls/AFP

The streets are empty, where locals once flocked for their morning coffee. Picture: Alexandra Bernard

THE DROUGHT WAITING GAME

With farmers sweating it out in paddocks, handfeeding stock all day, many graziers simply don’t have time to do the things they usually would.

Hairdressers and beauticians are feeling it the worst, because even the people who have the money to have a haircut just don’t have the time.

Beautician Sophie Robertson has been running Grace Beauty and Wellbeing for about two years, and as customers dwindled, her business became another victim of the drought.

Forced to close the doors, Ms Robertson is devastated by the effect the drought is having on the town.

Just like any small town, events are run on the goodwill and hard work of the community. Mr Maybury said this was a big factor in the cancellation of the show because volunteers were hard to come by. No one has the time.

“It takes a week to set the show up, to get it all in order, and when you’ve got guys that are feeding you’ve only got them for a half a day; that makes it difficult again,” he said.

Sponsorship for the show, which usually comes from local farms and businesses, was down 30 per cent, making it unviable.

All that aside, even the lack of feed meant there weren’t going to be any quality stock to show.

“When you get rid of that, you’ve only got half a show,” he said.

“I couldn’t see it getting any better so we decided to cancel it this year, sit it out and rather than get half the numbers through the gate and half your income and then end up being in debt, we’re better off to consolidate and run with a better one next year when it picks up.”

While it was an initial blow to community spirit, the town rallied together.

“Quirindi is hurting, but everyone is trying to do their bit and keep it going, and it’s good to see people support Quirindi as much as they can to keep it alive,” Mr Maybury said.

Alexandra Bernard is a journalism student at Bond University | @bernard_lexie