Letter to the
Editor in The Northern Star on
27 December 2014 at Page 17:
Drought relief
On Saturday
December 6, 567 Christmas hampers plus boxes of toys and gifts left the Eltham
Hall and headed out to drought-stricken farming families with everything having
been donated by the caring community of the Northern Rivers. Once again the
response was amazing, not only the food; toys; gifts; laundry and toiletry
products; but the boxes in which they were packed courtesy of Amcor; the
freight as usual by Tamex whose local agent is Greg from Lismore Tenterfield
Transport; the forklift and truck supplied by Mills Transport and driven by
Dave their transport manager. The boxes were all loaded onto pallets once again
by the wonderful Clunes RFS.
Thanks must
also go to those who made cash donations ranging from $20 to over $1000 into
the drought account that enabled us to buy what was needed. Thanks also to the
churches who donated, particularly the Uniting Church of Mullumbimby that
donated 40 boxes of goodies; the Bangalow Anglican Op Shop and the Seventh Day
Adventist Op Shop which both donated $500. Global Care from Ballina once again
showed they really care!
Thank you to
the wonderful children from Wollongbar and Modanville Public Schools whose
teachers encouraged them to collect for the farmers. All the local Lions Clubs
who generously donated cakes and cash, particularly Kingscliff, Byron Bay and
the Bangalow Lions who facilitate the Drought Fund. Even the district governor
and regional secretary who drove up from Port Macquarie with hundreds of cakes
and puddings!
It is
impossible to thank everyone, but you know who you are and you can rest assured
that your kindness is already making a huge difference out there in the dry and
dusty outback.
The
appreciation is already being shown and one dear old farmer spoke to me of
having his credit card rejected on $27 of groceries; he only had $11 left in
the bank, so you can imagine how overwhelmed he was to receive his hamper!
Thank you
everyone for making this appeal such a success, all the wonderful volunteers,
particularly Karen Hagley who has been helping with this project for years;
those who picked up and delivered (including my husband John) and helped to
sort and pack. It was a lovely to meet you all and work with such great people.
Happy
Christmas to you all.
ANNE THOMPSON
Organiser North Coast Drought Appeal
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