LIFE COACH
DEBBIE KEMP Coast to Cobar – The Initiative Helping Families in Australia’s Drought Stricken Farming Towns
G
eoff and Pat Dryland are a retired couple living in New South Wales’ (NSW) Illawarra region. In late 2019 they led an initiative to support families affected by drought in rural NSW. They called the initiative Coast to Cobar and it was such a success that it was run again late last year, in 2020. Here’s the story of how it all happened… The NSW-wide drought was so severe in 2019 that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment declared 97.2% of NSW in drought, and stated that 40 water storages across the state had less than six months’ supply in a worst-case scenario. Geoff and Pat wanted to help families who were doing it tough, yet they held some concerns about the amount of charitable donations going to overhead and administrative costs. So they decided that they’d take a ute full of food, toiletries, and other much needed items direct to the families who needed it.
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When they told family and friends, others wanted to add to their donations too. It was important to Geoff and Pat that 100% of items donated reach those in need, and it was clear that others valued this too. So much was donated that Geoff and Pat needed to secure a storage shed… and not only a trailer but an extra ute and trailer as well! Thankfully, local businesses Fairy Meadow Self Storage and Kennard’s Hire Corrimal supported these needs. Cash donations of over $12,000 also came in; these helped Geoff and Pat to shop locally, support local businesses, and provide even more than what had already been donated. After some research and conversations with their connections, it was decided that Geoff and Pat would visit Cobar. Cobar Shire is situated in the centre of NSW, and the town is known for mining and farming. In May 2019 the Guardian reported that the dam
