RURAL Aid CEO, John Warlters, will officially open the 81st Dalgety Show.
The theme of this year’s show is The Year of the Farmer which makes it fitting to have Rural Aid, an organisation devoted to helping farmers when in need, as the special guest of the show society committee.
Dalgety Show Society president Julie Hedger said Rural Aid had been there for Monaro farmers during some of the toughest of times.
“Farmers in Dalgety and across the greater Monaro region remember when Rural Aid delivered many, many loads of hay during the depths of the 2018-2020 drought,” Mrs Hedger said.
“And they were there again more recently to support the recovery after storms wreaked havoc on roads, fences, sheds and other infrastructure.
“These acts of generosity showed farmers that Australians had their back and remain etched in our memory.”
Rural Aid celebrates 10 years of operation this year, supporting farmers in a range of different ways, including:
Fodder assistance
Financial assistance for farmers impacted by a national disaster
Domestic water deliveries and domestic water tanks
Farm Army – a job posting platforms for workers and farm volunteers
Rural Transition Services – succession planning
Mr Warlters said he was excited to make the trip from Queensland to meet Dalgety show-goers, especially local farmers.
“Farmers, like those on the Monaro, go through so much to put food on our tables and produce natural fibres the world depends on,” he said.
“They are continually at the mercy of extreme weather conditions all the while demonstrating resilience, innovation and that great Aussie spirit.
“I’m looking forward to hearing how Monaro farmers are faring this season, see the agriculture exhibits on display and generally meeting the locals. I hear the steak sandwiches are pretty good too!”
Mr Warlters will visit Dalgety during Rural Aid’s Mates Day campaign, which aims to raise $500,000 from everyday Australians to support farmers in their time of need. The funds raised will go towards vital programs that provide financial aid, hay, clean drinking water, practical on-farm volunteer assistance, and mental health services for disaster-affected farming communities. The campaign runs until 19 March.
Find out more about Mates Day and Rural Aid www.ruralaid.org.au
The official opening of the 81st Dalgety Show, Sunday, 2 March, will take place at the sheep pavilion at 1pm.
