Unrelenting battle continues for famers
WHEN the #FinishWaterWaste initiative brought 1.9 million litres of water to the Southern Downs in 2019, Wildash farmer Paul Maher struggled to fight back tears of gratitude.
Now, a year and a further 150,000 litres later, Mr Maher said the battle remained for Warwick’s drought-riddled producers.
Mr Maher said he was still running with empty dams and a stock count 50 per cent less than his typical numbers.
“Things haven't changed a lot,” he said.
“We’re still dry, we have dams here dry and the one I’m dependant on only has a month or so water left in it. It’s just been rolling on for years and it’s been getting harder and harder.
“Since February, it’s been 5, 8mm, those sort of falls. Some people will say ‘well, you’ve got a bit of green’ but that’s all it is. There’s no growth in the grass.”
Mr Maher’s comments match the reality for Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.
“Until you tip it out of the rain gauge it hasn’t happened,” he said.
“2019 was a huge year for help and this year has been just as big. We’ve probably delivered more fodder to producers this year and I think that just reflects even in those areas that have had rain, it takes time to get those pastures growing and re-established.”
The water being gifted is part of a record-breaking series of #FinishWaterWaste deliveries happening across Australia during National Water Week. #FinishWaterWaste ambassador and Olympian Libby Trickett was also there with the Mahers, inspired to see the reality of living in drought.
“I think (for me) having children has instigated the desire to take care of our world as much as we can,” she said.
“It’s interesting talking to Paul and Monica because they take it as what they have to do. Whereas, if you took the same conditions to city life it would be really confronting for a lot of people.”