“Roses are red,
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Violets are blue,
Your dirt is dry –
But we’ll help you get by.”
The students at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School have the farmers in their thoughts.
They’ve baked nearly 120 packages of baked goods, and written poems and messages, for teacher Bernadette Phelps to deliver to farming families.
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“It came from a staff discussion of how we could help out, knowing that some of our families are also struggling,” religious education co-ordinator Teonie Flynn said.
“Bernie Phelps very quietly said: ‘Well, this is what I'd like to do in the holidays.’ Because she used to live out there, she said, ‘I know the farmers out there are not going to complain, they're not going to ask for anything.’ We see this could be a way of helping out.”
The school embraced Mrs Phelps’ suggestion. They asked children and their families to bake for the farmers.
Students cooked biscuits, brownies, slices, honeyjoys, and fruitcake – all items that will travel well, and not get spoilt in the heat.
“We asked for homemade stuff, so that farmers knew we put that bit of effort in,” Mrs Flynn said.
Mini Vinnies – the St Vincent de Paul Society’s primary school branch – packaged all the food on Friday morning.
They also wrote poetry; letters of encouragement, thanking farmers for what they’ve done, and trying to return the favour; blessings and prayers.
One card reads: “We hope you enjoy your smoko, and have time for a little break. We hope rain is on the way.”
Mrs Phelps and her family will deliver the packages in their campervan to farmers around Burren Junction and Rowena these holidays.
“They know farmers out there, so they'll stay on some properties, and they'll help support them,” Mrs Flynn said.
“But also on the way, when they're passing farms, their aim is to just drop it off and say: ‘We would like to offer you some morning tea’.
“If they've got the opportunity, they’ll sit and have a chat, just to touch base and let people know that we are thinking of them, and that we would like to support them in whichever way we can.”