{"id":339390,"date":"2023-10-26T21:50:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T11:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=339390"},"modified":"2023-11-03T23:41:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T13:41:17","slug":"hay-day-helps-to-lift-spirits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/10\/26\/hay-day-helps-to-lift-spirits\/","title":{"rendered":"Hay Day Helps To Lift Spirits"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
It’s all about the smiles … farmer Bree Knopke takes a break with her young son, Teddy, on Wednesday morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 26, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty-five South Burnett farming families had a reason to smile on Wednesday, thanks to a generous donation of hay organised by the Murgon Lions Club.<\/p>\n

Lions Zone 4 chairman Peter Coombes, a member of the Murgon club, said he had been approached by some South Burnett residents – who preferred to remain anonymous – concerned about the well-being of some of their neighbours who had been affected by drought.<\/p>\n

Peter said the South Burnett had faced its fair share of agricultural challenges over the years which had taken a toll on local families.<\/p>\n

Technically, the South Burnett is not drought declared, but the lack of rain in recent months was starting to bite hard.<\/p>\n

Peter said the anonymous residents had been providing a helping hand but had approached Lions to see if there was more that could be done.<\/p>\n

He organised a special meeting of Lions District 201 Q4 – of which Zone 4 is a part – which voted on Sunday to authorise the expenditure.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon Lions then arranged a B-double load of oaten hay from NSW, delivered by local business Gleich Contracting.<\/p>\n

A drop-off point was organised in the Mt McEuen area for Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

The farmers and their families were invited to collect the much-needed bales of hay, as well as talk to Graham House representatives who had information about various supports available.<\/p>\n

The South Burnett Suicide Prevention Working Group also provided bags of goodies.<\/p>\n

Peter said the hay was important, but even more important was the social side of the day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“One person was a little bit emotional about the social aspect,” Peter said.<\/p>\n

“They’d been so busy just surviving lately that they hadn’t chance to look up, and be able to have a yarn.<\/p>\n

“It was the social contact, and the fact that people cared.<\/p>\n

“There was not much hay, but they walked away happier.”<\/p>\n

Cr Kathy Duff provided cold drinks, which were also very welcome on a hot day.<\/p>\n

Peter said the hay delivery – which cost about $20,000 all up – was a one-off but he encouraged farmers to make individual applications for drought relief via the Need for Feed Australia website<\/a><\/strong>, another Lions project.<\/p>\n

[Photos supplied by Murgon Lions Club] <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The team from Lions District 201 Q4 … Lions Zone 4 chair Peter Coombes, Disaster Management Team co-ordinator John Campbell and District Governor Jackie Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Paul Gleich and his driver Jim, from Gleich Contracting, at the weigh-in station\u00a0before leaving to drop off hay to the collection point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Gleich Contracting B-double left Wondai to drop hay out to a collection point for farmers to pick up on Wednesday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lions District Governor Jackie Scott with some of the farmers’ children … Henry, Teddy and Sidney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Amanda Hiron, from Graham House, with farmer Ray Zischke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Alan Eagleson, who was helping to load the hay into farmers’ vehicles, with John Campbell (Lions)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peter Coombes with Greg Geysing … Greg came down with his tractor to help Alan Eagleson load the hay bales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peter Coombes, Alan Eagleson and Amanda Hiron during a quick lunch break on Wednesday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Volunteers Tina Torrens and Pat Eagleson having a few laughs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bryon Blanch and his son Nick with Alan Eagleson in the tractor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Local farmers gathered at the the collection point in the Mt McEuen area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

*\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/strong><\/h2>\n