IT has been an absolutely brutal year on the land form many and Jason Owen is determined to bring some smiles back to the rural communities he loves.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former X-Factor star is about to embark on a huge Christmas drought initiative which was sparked by his own experience growing up in the bush.
"I went to school in Tottenham, so a lot of my friends and family have been on the land their whole life."
Owen has been raising money and collecting gifts to donate farm kids ahead of Christmas.
Owen and his fiancé Becy Harvey will be heading to the New England region on December 6 visiting families in Armidale and making an appearance at the Woolbrook public school.
The trek will make it way up into Queensland before back down to Victoria.
Owen has had drought front of mind in recent years.
Proceeds from his 2018 single These Are the Times went to drought aid.
But firsthand accounts of the drought have left an indelible mark.
"I've heard stories of farmers who've had to shoot their pets because they afford to feed them, it's absolutely brutal," he said.
"No doubt, people having been thinking about the farmers, but we just want to bring some smiles to kids in rural Australia for this Christmas."