Tears of gratitude from a weary farmer made the Rotary Club of Milton Ulladulla's recent drought relief efforts all worth it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More than 100 boxes filled with gifts for children aged 0-17 were recently delivered to Tallimba, a small town of around 300 people in the state's Central West.
The initiative was kick-started by club members Ali Tyquin and Milton farmer Dale Wilford.
It received a welcome boost from local, Wendy Kilborn, who was able to secure a range of items from Milton-Ulladulla businesses to also be donated to families. Kitchen items, pet food and four pallets of water were just some of the donations received.
Rotarians made the 500 kilometre trek out to Tallimba recently to present the gifts, along with a $3000 donation to be given to the community in the form of gift vouchers to local shops.
A barbecue hosted by West Wyalong Rotary Club was much-appreciated by the more than 150 people who turned up to enjoy the Christmas spirit.
Milton-Ulladulla Rotary vice-president Brian Morrison said it was a heart-warming occasion.
"Everyone was overjoyed that people from the coast would come so far to do this," he said.
"I had one six-foot farmer come up to me and as he was thanking me over and over, there were tears rolling down his cheeks."
Brian said Rotarians were also taken on a tour of a farm the following day, an experience he said was "eye-opening" to witness the devastation the drought has had over the past few years.