{"id":246425,"date":"2019-10-21T19:40:17","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T09:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=246425"},"modified":"2020-07-16T11:19:22","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T01:19:22","slug":"wondai-welcomes-rural-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/10\/21\/wondai-welcomes-rural-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"Wondai Welcomes Rural Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Farm & Community Rescue program manager Grant Miskimmin and program manager Julia Hahn, from Brisbane, in Wondai on Sunday afternoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 21, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

A group of 35 Rural Aid volunteers received a warm welcome to Wondai on Sunday afternoon to kick off their week-long stay in the region.<\/p>\n

The volunteers are with the Farm & Community Rescue Program run by Rural Aid, which is probably best known for its Buy A Bale drought campaign.<\/p>\n

Every year the charity picks out towns across Australia to help … this time it was Wondai’s turn.<\/p>\n

Program manager Julia Hahn said 35 Farm & Community Rescue volunteers were staying at the Wondai Showgrounds.<\/p>\n

They will be working with six farmers during their stay, doing the odd jobs that tend to get overlooked when times are tough.<\/p>\n

“We’re just lending a hand,” volunteer Grant Miskimmin said.<\/p>\n

“We’ll be fixing pumps, repairing troughs, fencing, painting … all the little jobs that get overlooked.”<\/p>\n

They will also be doing minor repairs at the showgrounds.<\/p>\n

This is the first time Rural Aid has visited the South Burnett.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They began their visit on Friday with another related program, “Gift Of Music”, to help local schools (see separate report<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

As part of this, the charity also organised a visit by the Australian Army Band from Brisbane.<\/p>\n

The band played at Kingaroy State High School on Friday, then did a sold-out charity concert at Kingaroy RSL Club on Saturday night before playing at the Wondai Welcome For Volunteers on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Saturday night concert raised $1500 for Rural Aid.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, local farmers who have registered with Buy A Bale will be presented with $500 Rural Aid Country Cards<\/a><\/strong> at Wondai Showgrounds.<\/p>\n

Rural Aid will also be announcing this week the 10 towns that the Farm & Community Rescue volunteers will be aiming to visit across Australia next year.<\/p>\n