This at a time when the ongoing drought continues to put families on the land (and in town) in harm’s way – emotionally, mentally, and financially. As the ANZACS faced a call to arms 100 years ago to support a country in need, let it be said that we need a national call to farms today, to support our country communities in need.

Let us plan now to be ready when the drought begins to break.  Let us create a volunteer army or workforce to support farming families, contractors and suppliers.  They are all doing it tough.  They are all part of the farming community.

For the next year or longer, let us redirect the Work for the Dole and Green Corp volunteers into the farming communities as part of our drought support measures.  Let’s help keep these volunteers job ready with a more productive job role that benefits country families, and which provides far greater and timely community value.

Let’s attract mobile Grey Nomads, retired farming families, and other motivated people or clubs to volunteer a week or more on their way somewhere.  A road trip with a positive purpose, a great rural and remote farm location with amazing sunsets, a campfire, and great memories every night on what it means to donate your time to help others in need.

Government job providers have the reach to oversight and map out this volunteer farming workforce induction, rosters, teams, and locations based on need. 

One hundred years on from the ANZACS it’s now about the need for farm soldiers, not foot soldiers.  A ‘farming army’ on home soil if you like. 

So let’s plan to get ready now for when it rains.   For there’s a great time to be had by all when it does.

Michael Ticehurst

One of a Kind Community Support