Drought "not unlike a civil war zone" say Salvos
WHEN we think of donating to a charity at Christmas time our thoughts are generally with underprivileged kids doing it tough.
But this year, with seemingly unrelenting drought conditions, the Salvation Army is casting their charity nets wider, hoping to catch some gifts for the parents on the land.
"Quite often the ladies on the properties go without simple toiletries, like hair conditioner, in order to buy their kids a treat or to contribute to the household budget," Neville Radecker from the Longreach Salvation Army said.
"Parents will go without extra food, walk around in rags or invent ways to save on fuel to help their children," Neville’s wife, Lorraine, furthered.
With hundreds of toy donations flooding in from coastal areas -thanks mainly to the national Kmart Wishing Tree charity - the Radecker’s are appealing to local philanthropists to keep mums and dads in mind.
"Even if they don’t believe they need it, spending a few dollars on toiletries or the like and leaving it behind after one of our visits can mean a lot," Neville said.
For the past four years, Mr and Mrs Radecker have toured central and far Western Queensland a month before Christmas, dropping off toys to the children of 17 communities.
Like modern-day Santa Clauses, the Radeckers once again performed their annual ‘troopy pack’ last week, stuffing their vehicle full of donated toys ready for the children of the West.
"This year we received over 60 boxes of toys to supplement what the kids already get," Neville enthused.
"I am always surprised by what’s inside the boxes of donated toys – exotic dolls, complicated computer-type toys – they really are good quality.
"Last year we had a private donation of 40 children’s laptops, which were obviously not a cheap item."
While the devoted couple are able to bring smiles to the face of the small, innocent faces with a token gift, as a counsellor Neville has increasingly noticed the effects of the drought on the more hardened faces of adults.
With countless television stories, newspaper advertisements and radio interviews focused on the ‘worst drought in a 1,000 years’, it is not surprising that Neville and Lorraine have observed a multitude of cracks appear in the most steadfast family units and relationships, especially around Christmas, birthdays or other celebrations.
"This is not unlike a civil war situation," Neville said.
"People are under constant pressure and experience changes in their behaviour and the way they think.
"You get different people saying that they will hang on for just one more season, but it has gone on for so many years now that the conditions are starting to effect relationships.
"What were once minor personality traits come out as strong disorders in some people.
"Spouses feel they don’t know who they are married to anymore – they become strangers and noone wants to live like that."
Lorraine and Neville often provide a distraction for rural families and perhaps a glimmer of hope for those touched by the fingers of drought which can reach well beyond the financial.
"At some stage this drought will end," Neville said.
"It will take a long time and I don’t know if some will ever recover.
"More and more landowners are saying they will walk off the land once it’s over and the land has recovered – they just can’t live with that uncertainty again.
"But overall, people are being quite remarkable and we have taken strength from the community’s tenacity to pull together and get through."
"People can be amazing," Lorraine reflected.
"They still dig deep for a local charity, even when it is quite obvious that they can’t afford it.
"Even though many are facing a desperate situation, there is a great spirit out there with the commitment to get through."
With plenty of toys to be shared among the children of the West – and then some - you can help the Salvos in Longreach by donating gifts aimed at the big kids: mum and dad.
Donations of toiletries, clothes or anything you think may be appreciated, can be either dropped at the Salvation Army at 149 Eagle Street, or dropped off at the Leader office until Friday, December 15.
But this year, with seemingly unrelenting drought conditions, the Salvation Army is casting their charity nets wider, hoping to catch some gifts for the parents on the land.
"Quite often the ladies on the properties go without simple toiletries, like hair conditioner, in order to buy their kids a treat or to contribute to the household budget," Neville Radecker from the Longreach Salvation Army said.
"Parents will go without extra food, walk around in rags or invent ways to save on fuel to help their children," Neville’s wife, Lorraine, furthered.
With hundreds of toy donations flooding in from coastal areas -thanks mainly to the national Kmart Wishing Tree charity - the Radecker’s are appealing to local philanthropists to keep mums and dads in mind.
"Even if they don’t believe they need it, spending a few dollars on toiletries or the like and leaving it behind after one of our visits can mean a lot," Neville said.
For the past four years, Mr and Mrs Radecker have toured central and far Western Queensland a month before Christmas, dropping off toys to the children of 17 communities.
Like modern-day Santa Clauses, the Radeckers once again performed their annual ‘troopy pack’ last week, stuffing their vehicle full of donated toys ready for the children of the West.
"This year we received over 60 boxes of toys to supplement what the kids already get," Neville enthused.
"I am always surprised by what’s inside the boxes of donated toys – exotic dolls, complicated computer-type toys – they really are good quality.
"Last year we had a private donation of 40 children’s laptops, which were obviously not a cheap item."
While the devoted couple are able to bring smiles to the face of the small, innocent faces with a token gift, as a counsellor Neville has increasingly noticed the effects of the drought on the more hardened faces of adults.
With countless television stories, newspaper advertisements and radio interviews focused on the ‘worst drought in a 1,000 years’, it is not surprising that Neville and Lorraine have observed a multitude of cracks appear in the most steadfast family units and relationships, especially around Christmas, birthdays or other celebrations.
"This is not unlike a civil war situation," Neville said.
"People are under constant pressure and experience changes in their behaviour and the way they think.
"You get different people saying that they will hang on for just one more season, but it has gone on for so many years now that the conditions are starting to effect relationships.
"What were once minor personality traits come out as strong disorders in some people.
"Spouses feel they don’t know who they are married to anymore – they become strangers and noone wants to live like that."
Lorraine and Neville often provide a distraction for rural families and perhaps a glimmer of hope for those touched by the fingers of drought which can reach well beyond the financial.
"At some stage this drought will end," Neville said.
"It will take a long time and I don’t know if some will ever recover.
"More and more landowners are saying they will walk off the land once it’s over and the land has recovered – they just can’t live with that uncertainty again.
"But overall, people are being quite remarkable and we have taken strength from the community’s tenacity to pull together and get through."
"People can be amazing," Lorraine reflected.
"They still dig deep for a local charity, even when it is quite obvious that they can’t afford it.
"Even though many are facing a desperate situation, there is a great spirit out there with the commitment to get through."
With plenty of toys to be shared among the children of the West – and then some - you can help the Salvos in Longreach by donating gifts aimed at the big kids: mum and dad.
Donations of toiletries, clothes or anything you think may be appreciated, can be either dropped at the Salvation Army at 149 Eagle Street, or dropped off at the Leader office until Friday, December 15.
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