We’ve had some really good weather for the past couple of weeks – sunny weekends perfect for going to the beach or for just sitting outside sipping coffee. It seems almost like we’ve skipped straight from winter to summer. It sounds perfect but there are 2 sides to every coin. The same weather that is bringing us sunshine is also not bringing us rain. With our water storage still at a critically low level (currently 34.4% compared to 80% this time in 1997), we should do what we can to help save water. The good news is that we still have the water we need; we just need to be much more careful about how we use it. Others in the community are not so lucky.

Many farmers in the country and their families are definitely “not so lucky”. The 11 year old drought still has no end in sight and no amount of water saving measures will provide enough water for the rural community. Many of them are suffering mentally and emotionally from the drought which brings serious financial pressures. As if things are not tough enough, the recent global financial crisis will undoubtedly result in a “kick in the guts” for our country fellows. Commodity prices have already started to fall and banks are refusing to lend to other banks, let alone struggling farmer. Time are still very tough for farmers in Victoria but, like many serious and long term tragedies, even the media has lost interest.

DG Jim has come up with a plan to enable us to help our country cousins in this time of need (see DG Jim’s message in the Networker). The plan is simple enough, each club in our Goldfield cluster is linked with one of the other clusters and resources can be combined to assist those Goldfield clubs. The Batman cluster, which Southbank belongs to, is paired with RC Echuca Moama. RC Echuca Moama identifies a number of projects they would like to undertake and informs the Batman clubs which would see if they could assist with any of them. This is a great way to help these families and for us to be actively involved in helping those affected by the drought. If you would like to take an active part in this, please let me or our Service Project Directors (Wendy and Bettina) know.

Yours in Rotary,
Gabe