The current dry spell on King Island is unprecedented, affecting stock, farmers and islanders with various types of animals.
Feed is in very short supply; winter feed is almost non-existent and dams are beginning to dry up. The good news is that our plight hasn’t gone unnoticed and the Lions network has swung into action offering fodder relief.
A Victorian Lions program called NEED FOR FEED (VNFF) has supported communities since 2006, finding and distributing hay to primary producers. King Island rallied in 2020 and sent our surplus bales plus a $10,000 donation to assist drought-affected farmers on the mainland.
Bags of warehoused pellets are ready to be loaded and shipped to King Island this week to help farmers affected by the drought.
VNFF heard about King Island’s dry spell and offered their support to source and deliver hay to us. They put out an application link that has seen 70 responses from animal owners. This lists 24,000 beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 4000 sheep, 83 horses and two goats.
We know there are more animals needing feed. VNFF enlisted the help of Lions Tasmania because bio-security restrictions made it difficult to send hay from Victoria.
Some hay, along with bulk bags of cattle and sheep pellets, is due to arrive this week, with further shipments coming as space on boats allows.
VNFF has pledged $300,000 worth of assistance in this first round, with freight to be added on top of that. Lions Tasmania has set up an appeal and will use its Disaster Relief funds to help the cause. The Lions network around Australia reaches far and wide.
The Lions Club of Townsville, Queensland heard about our situation on Macca’s ABC All Over program. They sent $1000.
Hayfield Lions Club in Victoria is acting separately from VNFF and will assist with pellets or funds in due course.
The Deloraine Lions Club has pledged $5000, wanting to return the favour when King Island responded to their flood crisis a few years ago.
The Smithton Lions Club has pledged $1000 plus the proceeds of their next three cattle sales.
We are witnessing first-hand the motto ‘where there’s a need, there’s a Lion’.
King Island Lions will begin distributing donated fodder this week, continuing as long as the enormous support from our mainland friends allows. We ask everyone to be understanding as they wait for help.
In a generous act from VNFF, everyone who applied will be helped. In normal circumstances on the mainland, only primary producers receive assistance.
For further information contact Lions’ Linda Payne on 0488 566 448 or Sarina Laidler on 0428 611 332 or via Messenger.