Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The farmers in my electorate are certainly the backbone of our economy, and it would be an understatement to say that the last few years have been extremely tough for them. A long drought, horrendous bushfires, floods, pandemics and then, more recently, more devastating and destructive floods have pushed many of our farmers not only to the financial brink but to the emotional brink. So it was a very welcome sight for many of our farmers to see the truckloads of silage roll into our towns courtesy of the Rapid Relief Team. I met with the Rapid Relief Team's managing director, Ron Arkcoll, and coordinator, Will Small, last Friday at Kempsey Showground, where they were providing free bales of hay, mental health support, rural financial counselling and veterinary support. The hay and the silage were donated by farmers from the Southern Highlands and the RTT to almost 100 farmers in the Macleay Valley that day. This was only one of a number of stops they've made over the past months.

RTT is the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, and the hay run is part of the RTT's Family Community Connect program. I would like to thank the Rapid Relief Team for providing their support to our farmers, not just in my electorate but throughout many of the communities. You have not only provided support to our farmers; you have provided hope.

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