Neighbours step in after header accident claims farmer’s life

After the shock of a header accident that claimed the life of a respected farmer, came the community response, which left one participant “honoured and proud” to be a part of. See video of them in action, carrying on their mate’s work.

WHEN respected southern NSW farmer Broughton Bird was killed in a header accident last week on his property north of Corowa, the first response from the community was shock.

The next response was typical of a rural community: they rounded up 15 harvesters, up to 30 trucks and 10 tractors and chaser bins and set about stripping the crop for his family.

Local farmers put their own program on hold as they stripped about 500ha of barley and 3000 tonnes of grain on Sunday, which was delivered into the Birds’ grain storage facility.

Tractors line up to empty loads after harvesting at the Birds’ NSW farm, after neighbours, including Peter Richardson, pictured, helped strip crops. Picture: Alastair Robb

Denis Tomlinson, from Daysdale, in NSW, said he was “honoured and proud” to be part of the group that helped the family.

“It speaks volumes of the local community that even when we have a dwindling population, people were prepared to give their time, equipment and effort out of respect for Broughton Bird,” Mr Tomlinson said.

“His death has struck a lot of people hard.

“He was a leading farmer that always did things bigger and better and everyone looked to him to see how they should be doing things.

“Farmers are exposed to a lot of risk in their everyday jobs and a lot of us are feeling that it could easily have been them. It’s really hit home.”

Mr Tomlinson said that the community’s efforts to help harvest “were a small positive in what is a horrific tragedy”.

He said other groups had also helped the Bird family, including Lawson Grains.