A convoy of cars and a semi loaded with hay drove from Bowral to Junee last weekend to deliver gifts to struggling families in the drought affected mid-Western NSW district.
The 36 Bowral parishioners from St Jude's, Bowral, drove for four hours, over 350kms, through tantalising rain to provide assistance to members of St Luke's, Junee and the surrounding community.
The travellers were within 35kms of their destination before the rain stopped, a cruel reminder of the failure to get a decent harvest over the last five years.
Trish Cartwright, organiser of the Bowral end of the Drought Drive 2006 appeal was disturbed by the absence of viable productivity in the Junee community.
"Locals told us that at this time of year the area would be bustling with grain trucks en route to silos " but there is just nothing happening, nothing harvested, nothing growing and nothing likely in the immediate future," Mrs Cartwright says.
Bowral parishioners have displayed a strong commitment to supporting drought ravaged Junee in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
"In total we raised $17,000 from the church and the general community in Bowral and to date we have spent only $6,000 bringing 23 tonnes of hay and relief in," Mrs Cartwright says.
"The rest will either go on more hay and possibly extending the hours of the Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn funded farm visitor, whose job it is to help families deal with the rural crisis."
Members of the Drought Drive 2006 appeal liaised with members of the NSW Farmers Federation about what fodder to buy and also gave the Anglicare in Junee thousands of dollars worth of gifts including Bibles for school children, stamps, Christmas cards, toiletries and Christmas craft packs.
"It was a very successful weekend. Really productive and successful. The people from Bowral were able to bless our community by proving hay and gift packs," says the rector of Junee, the Rev Brett Watterson.
"It was an encouragement to know that the city folk are with us and I think they were able to learn how the drought really affects people."
The trip was also an opportunity to support the local Anglican church at Junee. Members of the church provided accommodation to 22 of the visitors from Bowral.
"This is one of the many ways city parishes can help. The visits, prayer and financial support and Christian encouragement are fantastic ways to assist rural parishes," Mr Watterson says.
"After Christmas we will work out how to best spend the rest of the $17000 Bowral raised. A lot of parishes are already feeling the pinch so the money is a great blessing."
Local parishioners hosted a farm based BBQ for the Bowral members on Saturday night attended by over 60 people.
"We were only in Junee for 24 hours and but the relationships we made in that time were very significant," Mrs Cartwright says.
"The mixing and mingling was really worth while and the locals said they were really encouraged by our presence and support."
The two groups enjoyed gathering as one larger than usual congregation at St Luke's on the Sunday morning. A phone link up between the Junee and Bowral congregations also enabled the two congregations to interact and learn even more about each other.
"The minister, Rev Brett Watterson went to a lot of trouble to make us all feel really welcome and give us an opportunity to mix with the locals as much as possible," Mrs Cartwright says.
Bowral visitors also experienced a ride in a calf trailer through the barren paddocks.
"We saw how bad things really were and met the locals to see how we can support them in these conditions," Mrs Cartwright says.
"While we could not give hay to everybody our gesture brought a message of love to that community and they really embraced us. I really hope the two parishes will continue to pray and support each other through the coming months."
Read Oasis in drought despairing bush in Southern Cross December 2006.
