Euroa Lions Club

SINCE 2019, the Euroa Lions Club has been actively involved with the 'Need for Feed' program. This activity entails sourcing and trucking hay to farmers in need throughout Australia – needs which may be related to drought, fire or floods. In the most recent convoy, 136 rolls were donated by a local Lions Club member. In the last month four loads have been sent from Euroa with three going to Taree in New South Wales and one to Winton, Queensland. With contributions from across the state, in total, 14 to 15 trucks went to Taree and 25 went all the way to Winton. 'Need for Feed' was established in 2006 in response to what was at that time the driest period on record. The subsequent bushfires that raged as a consequence of the drought affected many farmers and rural communities. At that time, reportedly three farmers per week around Australia were taking their own lives and many others were walking off the land, unable to cope with circumstances beyond their control. Like many of the great Lions projects, the idea behind it came from one club member with a special interest in making a difference. The Lions member was Graham Cockerell (from Packenham) who had lost his own father years before to farm related suicide, and didn't want see other farmers and their families go through the same heartbreak. "My father wasn't a bad farmer, in fact quite the opposite; he found himself in circumstances beyond his control where he could see no other way out," Mr Cockerell said. At the time, he had given away one small truckload of his own hay to a group of farmers burnt out in East Gippsland. When Mr Cockerill saw the scale of the destruction and spoke to those affected, he returned home determined to do something about it. He talked to his Lions Club (Packenham), got them on board and rounded up a group of mates to get involved with the fundraising and finding more hay. The 'Need for Feed' team came to the rescue during the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 and have continued on each year through fires, floods and droughts to provide fodder and raising funds to keep the trucks rolling. The response to the latest drought has seen well over 1300 truckloads of fodder worth around 12 million dollars delivered to farmers totally free of charge into all of the eastern states including Tasmania and South Australia, along with more than 700 truckloads with a value of at least $6.5 million for those affected by last summer's horrific fires. Over 90 truckloads have now been delivered to support those impacted by the current floods with more deliveries planned. Not only is the hay donated, but the trucks are driven voluntarily with the fuel paid for by further donations. The 'Need for Feed' project has now been adopted by many Lions Clubs across Australia where it is managed 100 per cent by volunteers. In addition, the hay deliveries are usually accompanied by household hampers, personal care packs, Lion's teddies and toys for the children and food for farm dogs. If you would like to contribute or donate to this worthy cause, visit the 'Need for Feed' website: www.needforfeed.org.