Six Penrith Anglican College (PAC) students have visited three drought-affected towns to share a musical message of hope.

Last weekend Penrith Anglican College music teacher Elizabeth Cumming led PAC's Blue Gum String Band on a journey out to the NSW towns of Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham, located northwest of Parkes.

"Our aim was to encourage the Christians and to reach out to the non-Christians who are suffering the effects of the drought," Elizabeth says.

Each of these towns, situated in wheat-growing country, contains between 300 and 500 people.

"At the moment the areas look very lush and green but it's deceiving,” Elizabeth explains.

“The dams are empty and the farmers have planted crops in faith that rain will come. But if the rain doesn't come in the next two weeks the crops will fail."

Elizabeth says the farmers greatly value personal encouragement from urbanites so she was confident that the Blue Gum String Band would be up to the task of uplifting and entertaining the locals.

Bush music, gospel message

The band performed a concert at the Memorial Hall in Tullamore.

"We had 100 people attend which isn't bad for a town of 400," Elizabeth says.

Elizabeth's father, the Rev Neil Prott, gave an evangelistic talk half way through the concert.

Neil is a retired Sydney Anglican minister who leads Country Serve Ministry, which seeks to support evangelical bush churches.

They band also performed at three Presbyterian church services in Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham on the Sunday.

"Going to three services in the one day was very exhausting but it was extremely encouraging to meet these pockets of Christians who are on fire for the Lord in the midst of their hardship," she says.

"When you go to their services they bellow out the hymns at the top of their voices. It puts our churches to shame," she laughs.

"The locals don't complain despite their struggle. They just plant the crops and wait on God for the rain."

Every cent serves

The band recorded a CD in the months before the trip and raised $2300 from sales to give to the farmers.

"Some farmers have overdrafts of $100,000 which has been used purely for feeding livestock," Elizabeth says.

"None of the money we raised went towards the cost of our trip. It all went directly to the farmers. We would love to see our practical work have an impact on the farmers for the sake of the gospel."

Elizabeth says she and the band are keen to do a return trip soon.

Photo: Robert Bicknell