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FEDERAL MINSTER TONY BURKE JOINS LEE ON SUNDAY IN MILLMERRAN QLD TO MEET DROUGHT AFFECTED FARMING FAMILIES

06-08-08

Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan is currently touring drought stricken areas around Australia on his Spirit of the Bush – Paddock Tour and will be appearing in Millmerran on Sunday 10 August 2008.

Lee visits communities which have been severely affected by drought and co-ordinates an event where the community comes together for what Lee calls a day of information and communication. The events are being presented in conjunction with Aussie Helpers, a community based charity that assists families who have been severely affected by drought and which Lee is a patron of.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, has accepted Lee’s invitation to attend the visit to Millmerran on Sunday 10 August 2008.  The event will be held at Millmerran Showgrounds, kicking off at midday and concluding around 6pm. Millmerran is situated 80 km south west of Toowoomba on the Gore Highway.

Local music artists have donated their talents to entertain the crowd during the day which will culminate in a concert by local musicians between 4pm and 6pm.  Lee Kernaghan and Minister Burke will be in attendance to talk with farming community members from mid-day until approximately 4.30pm.

Formalities will take place from 2pm with speeches from the Mayor of Millmerran Peter Taylor, Local Member Stuart Copeland and local community representatives. Lee will say a few words and also sing a few songs for the gathering.

Lee recently used the launch of the 2009 Australian of the Year Awards held at Old Parliament House in Canberra to draw attention to the plight of drought-stricken farmers. Speaking directly to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the country music star said current drought assistance schemes disadvantaged farmers who worked to supplement their meagre incomes.

''This is a problem that really needs to get fixed,'' Kernaghan said.

''Should farming families on a drought-stricken farm earn more than $400 per week off-farm, they begin to lose very important entitlements under the drought relief package.

''The policy as it stands effectively takes away any hope of farming families ... of working their way out of debt.''

Close to tears, he added, ''This topic makes me very emotional because I know these people, I've met families across Australia in this position.''

Kernaghan said, like the rest of the Paddock Tour, the event in Millmerran will be casual.

“I think it will be a fairly informal gathering, we’ll fire up the BBQ’s, I’ll bring along my guitar but most importantly it will be an opportunity for people on the land to talk to each other about the challenges they are facing right now,” he said.

Information will be made available to farming families on the day, there will be a sausage sizzle and a jumping castle for the kids thanks to the generous donations of local council, businesses and community groups.

The event is also supported by the National Australia Day Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.

For information on Aussie Helpers visit www.aussiehelpers.org.au.

 

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