{"id":221245,"date":"2018-10-30T14:26:44","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T04:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=221245"},"modified":"2018-11-30T14:11:50","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T04:11:50","slug":"help-for-farmers-but-mores-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/10\/30\/help-for-farmers-but-mores-needed\/","title":{"rendered":"Help For Farmers, But More’s Needed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Graham House manager
Linda O’Hare<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 30, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far this year Murgon’s Graham House has quietly helped 91 South Burnett farming families put food on the table, pay bills, fix broken pumps …<\/p>\n

On some occasions, farmers turned up at the neighbourhood centre with a handful of bills they just couldn’t pay and had nowhere else to turn to.<\/p>\n

But Graham House manager Linda O’Hare told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> she had also found herself at times sitting in a lounge room with a family that had been referred to her by other farmers, offering help to people unwilling to ask for assistance themselves.<\/p>\n

Graham House has helped families from across the South Burnett … from Kumbia to Murgon and beyond.<\/p>\n

“We work behind the scenes,” Linda said.<\/p>\n

“We have some grant support but there is no actual funding which is not drought-related. Drought support is very specific.<\/p>\n

“There is no funding for storm recovery, for example, or for the pig farmers.”<\/p>\n

She said pig farmers had been very badly affected when grain prices went up $100\/tonne overnight and kept on rising.<\/p>\n

“Many were in dire straits,” she said.<\/p>\n

More recently, Graham House has faced the consequences of the October storms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“These terrible storms wiped out crops, killed or injured stock. It’s been one thing after the other,” she said.<\/p>\n

“It makes you want to weep.”<\/p>\n

Linda said many of the families also had school-age children, so the strain on families was having an impact on children as well.<\/p>\n

Recently, Graham House received a helping hand when a group arrived from Brisbane unexpectedly with $850 worth of IGA vouchers “just to support the farmers”.<\/p>\n

“Every little bit helps so much,” she said.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Graham House will be the beneficiary of the “Locals Supporting Locals” fundraising comedy night being organised by South Burnett resident Simon Neal on Saturday night (November 3).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although it’s a dubbed a “drought relief” night, Simon is eager to point out that it’s to help South Burnett farmers, and it was about more than just drought.<\/p>\n

Simon is also keen for people to realise that just because there’s been rain, it doesn’t mean the drought – and its effects – are over.<\/p>\n

He’s hoping to raise enough cash on the night to provide Graham House with several thousands of dollars of emergency relief which can be distributed to local farming families.<\/p>\n

The 18+ event (the comedy acts will contain some adult content) will be held at the Kingaroy Red Ants grounds in Youngman Street (T.J. O\u2019Neill Oval).<\/p>\n

The entertainment will feature five emerging Brisbane-based comedians plus music by local band RiSA.<\/p>\n

Cost is $40 per person, which includes a steak burger.<\/p>\n

There will also be a cash bar run by the Red Ants as well as multi-draw raffles.<\/p>\n

Tickets are available at Raine & Horne, Kingaroy; Somethings Country, Kingaroy; and Graham House, Murgon; or call Simon on 0408-459-524.<\/strong><\/p>\n