WHILE a few precious drops of rain fell across NSW last week, the outlook is still extremely grim for our farmers, with hotter than expected temperatures forecast for September and October.

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Bulahdelah is pulling out all the stops this weekend with its ‘One for the Farmers’ big day out on Sunday 9 September.

The initiative started from a Facebook post by Markwell Valley local, Anne-Marie Barry.

“In July this year we went to the Wean Country Picnic races, between Gunnedah and Boggabri,” Anne-Marie told News Of The Area.

“Driving down through Dungowan into Tamworth, reality hit.”

“Where usually there were lush paddocks of lucerne, we were confronted with brown, dry dusty paddocks,” Anne-Marie said.

“Ewes that had just given birth were abandoning their babies in search of food and empty dams and creeks.”

“Cotton had been harvested but no new crops could be seen, just more brown, dusty paddocks.”

“Onto the races and the crowd was well down.”

“On talking to a few locals it seems many events have had to cancel this year as everyone is needed at the farm to help and money is extremely tight.”

“I came home devastated by what I had seen and the words ‘How can I help’ haunted me for days.”

And so ‘One for the Farmers’ was born.

Within hours of posting the event, the flood gates opened with donations.

“Local Barry Brothers Butchers offered to donate all of the sausages and Tea Gardens Bakehouse offered all of the bread.”

“Bulahdelah IGA offered all of the drinks, Great Lakes Tree Services and Bulahdelah Tyre and Mechanical chipped in with steak, Bulahdelah BP has given us chips and oil for the ‘hot chips’.

“The Bulahdelah Show Society took care of insurance and gave a huge donation.”

“Even our local Dentist and Vet have contributed.”

“Pretty much every business in our little town has donated something,” Anne-Marie said.

“Businesses in Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Forster and Tuncurry have also contributed.”

So if you’re looking for a great day out, head to the Bulahdelah Showground this Sunday for lots of fun, auctions, raffles, live music, novelty races and some great tucker.

By Margie TIERNEY