Being a farmer is hard, and getting harder. Natural disasters lurk constantly for many Australian primary producers, from floods to droughts to bushfires, as well as potential crop devastation and other hurdles. North Queensland farmers currently dealing with the catastrophic effects of this month’s floods still haven’t fully recovered from the last epic flood, in 2019.
It’s no wonder many farming families and farming communities live with mental health struggles and high suicide rates.
All of which is why I’m super happy to have started working with Farm Angels, a powerful charity operating out of Queensland, but with a national footprint. Farm Angels was established by Natasha Johnston, who is still Chief Angel, and her charity offers immediate and ongoing extremely practical disaster relief services, as well as emotional support. From hosting phone lines, manned by people with rural life experience that makes them empathetic to the struggles of those who call, to providing funding to replace lost farm infrastructure, or even a pre-loaded credit card so a farming family can pay some bills or buy groceries, Farm Angels has helped so many.
I’m assisting Farm Angels with media/comms, reports and storytelling, to inspire existing and potential funders regarding the angels’ work.
I hope to perform miracles in media that match what they’re doing out on the land. It’s an important cause.
Feature image: The ‘Flannel for a Farmer’ campaign is one of the ways Farm Angels raises funds. Pic: Gerkies
NOISY BOY MEDIA 