' Beds For Bush Kids '

Drought and the ' Tyranny of Distance,' as explained in my previous blog post, are having a terrible effect on families and their livelihood. In these parts it is the cattle industry that is effected. On the Station we have seen the effects firsthand over the last months as the paddocks become drier, and the rain doesn't come. It seems they haven't had a true wet summer for a couple of years. There are programs organised by local groups to support families on the land like 'Beds For The Bush' and 'Channel Country Ladies' Weekend that we have witnessed firsthand.

Beds for The Bush is a program initiated by Longreach SODE, the school of the air, to raise vital funds to help families send their children to school events, mini camps, excursions etc. These events are very important for isolated children who come into school to have lessons face to face with their teachers and classmates. The opportunity to be social and share learning and play time with classmates is important, but often costly. An added expense that is costly in times of drought both economically and time wise, as families need to work harder to keep feed and water up to stock.

 If  you are at this time or in the future looking for a worthy Australian cause to donate money to, think about giving something to the Beds In The Bush program ! You will be supporting Australian kids in the bush, their families, and your farmers.

Below is a link to the ABC's coverage of this program run by Longreach SODE. The children were attending a 3 day Music Camp in Longreach. Our boys, their Mum and George made the 1600km return trip to attend.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-07/beds-for-bush-kids-program-takes-off-at-school-of/5726100


Another wonderful initiative is The Channel Country Ladies Weekend, initiated in 2012 to support women of the local region. (As referred to in my last post) From Friday afternoon till Sunday afternoon women gathered to network, catch up with friends, attend seminars, be entertained and generally enjoy each other's company. There were health nurses from the RFDS and community health, health and beauty treatments, hairdresser, stalls, art classes, body art and a burlesque show, followed by lessons the next day.
Women travelled from hundreds of kilometres away to camp in Betoota, at the racecourse, in the middle of the desert. We made a return trip of 700kms on back dirt roads with not a town or house in sight, and definitely no phone service of any type all weekend.The town itself has a population of zero now, and became the centre of attention for the weekend with Landline, Women's Weekly and newspapers sending journalists and photographers to cover the story.

                

'The Snake', a local Aboriginal initiative, and afternoon Champagne and Nibblies

The Catering Truck

The Big Red Truck with caterers from the Birdsville Hotel, 'just up the road', provided restaurant quality meals all weekend. Everything was trucked in for the weekend, including shower/toilet blocks.

Posted by Lynne