THE Bribbaree community rallied together last Thursday to discuss the services that are available to farmers who suffered substantial damage in the recent floods.
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The meeting provided village locals with the opportunity to discuss natural disaster grants, loans Centrelink grant, insurance issues, animal and human health concerns and the pasture recovery and cropping options available.
These information sessions were carried out by Centrelink, Rural Financial Counselling Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Livestock Health and Pest Authority.
Bribbaree resident Pat Potbury, who lost more than 500 sheep in the floods, said spirits were high despite what people had been through.
“The comments from those who attended the Flood Information Session was very positive and said it was the best session we have had after a disaster,” Mrs Potbury said.
While the community continues to rebuild and get back on their feet Member for Burrinjuck and Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson is continuing to assist with grants and funding.
“We had a meeting recently to find out what the farmers want to see happen and done – we then took that to Katrina when we met with her privately in Yass recently,” she said.
But sadly, not everyone is entitled to government funding.
“People who earn more than 49 per cent in off farm income are not entitled to the $15,000 on offer from the government,” she said.
What makes it worse for Mrs Potbury is her farm covers two shires.
“Only Young is entitled to the funding because they are a category C natural disaster zone and that’s because of Paul Parker who toured the region – but most of our property is in the Weddin Shire, we only have 50 acres in Young.”
“Everything is still a fog for us out here – we didn’t inherit this farm we worked two jobs in Canberra, seven days a week for 23 years just to pay for it – but the community are coming on board,” she said.
Mr and Mrs Potbury were contacted by their stock and station agent in Forbes who said he will organise a sheep drive to get some breeding ewes back and the farm up and running again.
“It’s the only way we can do it to restock,” Mrs Potbury said.
For now the couple are still finalising their grant application but they encourage others to get in and get it done.
“It will take some time to go through so we encourage people to do it as quickly as they can,” she said.
