households in NSW supported
over the past year as part of the
second round of DCSI funding in
2019/20.

distributed in Drought
Community Support Initiative
(DCSI) funds in 2019/20.

raised in NSW to provide
additional assistance for farming
communities devastated by the
drought in 2019/20.

We have been there for Australians in times of emergency and hardship for well over 150 years. As NSW farmers, regional businesses and families have endured through the worst drought in living memory, we have stood beside them.

We were one of two major charities contracted nationally to distribute the Commonwealth Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) package. Farmers, farm workers, farm suppliers and contractors in eligible local government areas (LGAs) were able to apply for emergency payments of up to $3,000 per household.

Here in NSW, we supported more than 4,900 households over the past year as part of the second round of DCSI funding. We distributed $14.8 million in Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) funds throughout the eligible LGAs, helping farming households meet their most immediate financial needs.

Additionally, we contributed $1.4 million in Society funds to assist drought-affected households with energy and utility bills, health and medical expenses, vehicle maintenance and household expenses.

As part of our long-standing corporate partnership with IGA, who have supported our good works in communities across Australia for close to a decade, a Christmas Drought Appeal campaign was held in November and December 2019. With the sales from $2 gift tokens and specially marked IGA Community Chest products, more than $418,000 was raised nationally – including $123,000 in NSW – to provide additional assistance for farming communities devastated by the drought.

As part of the IGA Christmas Drought Appeal, the Society raised $123,000 in NSW to support communities devastated by drought.

Drought-affected households were eligible for $3,000 relief payments through the Commonwealth Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI).

Paula and Greg Rudd, owners of the Cumnock General Store, received support through the Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI).

In the tiny town of Cumnock in Central West NSW, we have been able to support the local general store because of the Drought Community Support Initiative.

Since the drought started, Cumnock General Store’s sales have been cut in half.

“We hardly see people,” said Paula Rudd, who bought the 138-year-old business with her husband, Greg, five years ago. “And when they do come in, they look so tired and careworn.”

Country born-and-bred; Paula describes the latest drought as the worst in recent memory. “You’ve got people in their 90s who have never seen anything like it,” she said.

The Rudds see themselves as caretakers of one of the longest continuously running businesses in Australia. The store, which doubles as the town’s bank and post office, started trading in 1882.

“We definitely feel the pressure of that, that’s for sure. We are only the fourth owners. We had very big shoes to fill.” The business had been run into the ground when the Rudds bought it, due to the previous owner’s health issues. “We came into it all guns blazing and we haven’t stopped working, seven days a week, 12-16 hours a day.”

The Rudds added a cafe and resuscitated the hardware section – along with groceries, fuel, hay, dog food and now alcohol, Cumnock General Store even sells the kitchen sink.

Thanks to the DCSI assistance provided by the Society, the Rudds can continue operating an institution of the local community.

“Is it a good thing? Overwhelmingly yes. It keeps people coming through my door,” Paula said. “We’re not going to shut the doors. Not on our watch.”