Woolworths Cowra has donated $250 worth of bottled water and 300 reusable plastic bags to help drought-affected farmers out west.
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The water will be distributed by volunteer Jess Skinner to farmers in Trundle, Fifield, Tullamore, Albert, Tottenham and Dandaloo.
While Jess was hugely grateful of Woolworths’ donation she described the situation for farmers out west as “catastrophic”.
Jess is a volunteer who creates and delivers care packages of donated items to farmers around Trundle, Fifield, Tullamore, Albert, Tottenham and Dandaloo; only about 150km to 250km away from Cowra.
She said the media “sugar coats” just how bad conditions have become.
“I’m trying to show people just how true it is. The media sugar coats it, they really do. When you go out and see it, it’s so different,” Jess Skinner said.
”People are going without water. There’s families that have no water at all. It’s something that we take for granted everyday living in a town. We can just turn a tap on and it’s there. Whereas out there they rely on rainwater because their bore water runs so dry it’s too salty and they can’t drink it.”
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Woolworths Cowra last week donated 24 packs of 24 bottles of water and 10 of the 10 litre bottles.
Jess said it’s hugely valuable for battling farmers who are struggling to feed their stock.
But without rain, stock will starve as hay prices soar.
“This is practical. It’s water. Everyone needs water. There’s families that have no water at all,” Jess said.
“It’s catastrophic in my eyes when you see first hand what’s happening out there. They’re losing stock, they don’t find any other way other than to sell up and leave. They have no life outside the drought. They don’t leave because they’re too scared to leave their stock, it’s catastrophic it really is.
“If they don’t get any more rain I honestly believe everything is just going to stop. Hay prices are through the roof they can’t find hay so how are you going to feed your stock.”
Despite describing the situation as “catastrophic” Jess says the farmers are always happy to offer a cup of tea or coffee, and are always on for a chat when she’s delivering supplies.
“It’s about going in and meeting them. Every time you get offered a cup of tea or cup of coffee and they love to talk. The beauty of doing what I do is that you actually get to meet people and talk to them about their experiences,” she said.
“It’s tough out there, it’s very tough.”
