24/08/2026
“It probably would have meant more sleepless nights.”
Tanya owns a farm near Dalveen in Queensland, with sheep, cattle and miniature goats. In recent years, she’s seen fires come close to the property. Now, drought has brought another kind of pressure.
The creek behind Tanya’s farm had been completely dry. The dams were empty. There was no readily available water for her cattle, and with no grass, keeping the stock fed was becoming another worry.
Then Tanya met Rural Aid at a local community wellness day.
What made the difference wasn’t just the practical support. It was talking to someone who understood what it was like to be on the land, and understand how difficult it can be to accept a helping hand.
Four bales of hay arrived. “For me, that was a month of feed for the cattle.”
Without that hay, Tanya says, there probably would have been more sleepless nights. Instead, she was able to hold off sending more sheep to market and give last year’s lambs more time to grow.
Then came another surprise.
Tanya had been told a gift card would be sent. She thought perhaps $100 would help with the groceries.
When she activated the card, there was $1,000 on it.
“That's going to give me some groceries without having to worry about all the extra things.”
For Tanya, Rural Aid was more than hay or financial assistance.
It was someone to talk to. Someone who understood. “It was an absolute blessing.”
Your support can help Rural Aid stand alongside farmers like Tanya - easing some of the pressure and reminding them they don’t have to carry it alone. 💚
👉 Help us be there for a farming family when they need it most: ruralaid.org.au/carrytheweight
