Pharmacy FarmAssist
Helping farmers pay for their medications
A GOONDIWINDI Pharmacy is doing their part to help our farmers out with their program FarmAssist.
Pharmacist Emma Newsome and intern Emma Conway are holding a fundraiser barbecue and raffle outside Lucy Walker Chemmart Pharmacy in Goondiwindi on Saturday.
Pharmacy owner Lucy Walker will then match the funds raised dollar for dollar and put the money on to the FarmAssist account which will help farmers pay for their medication.
“I’m from a farming family so I understand the struggle,” Ms Newsome said.
“If there’s a choice between buying blood pressure medication verse feeding their cattle, they’re going to choose feeding their cattle.
“We’ve had a few at the moment who have come through and asked us to help them pick which are the most essential because they can’t
afford to buy all of them.”
Ms Newsome said even though farmers may be money poor they are asset rich and therefore don’t qualify for any concession cards. So FarmAssist will help subsidise their medications.
The Goondiwindi community has been very supportive of the cause.
“Businesses all through town are donating items from the rural produce store, a local café, and a children’s clothing store. Our local Foodworks is donating for the barbecue,” Ms Newsome said.
“We want to make this the first of many events. We want to keep this going as long as it’s needed.
“We have bigger aspirations to partner with other pharmacies.”