Jaimie Robertson is Rural Aid’s Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications Manager. Here is his story from his time in Biggenden at a farm recovery event in September 2023.
My main role in Biggenden was to understand and capture farmers’ stories from this drought impacted region. Particularly farmers Betty, Robbie and Norm who have endured many serious challenges in their years on the land.
It’s always a privilege to be welcomed onto a farmer’s property and learn about their experiences. Having lived in cities my entire life, it’s a real eye opener and has helped me appreciate and understand the importance of farmers and a little about what life might be like on the land. I feel very grateful for the willingness of our farmers to carve out time from their incredibly hectic schedules to share their stories, shedding light on their challenges and triumphs. They are tough, honest and good-natured folk – stories of drought, flood and strain are always balanced with a touch of humour and concern for their mates or neighbours down the road, rather than stories about themselves. The interviews we conduct with farmers are vital for helping others to understand the significant effort and sacrifice involved in producing food and clothing for us all.
These interviews will be used in tv news, radio segments, Youtube videos, Facebook posts, emails, corporate communications and newspaper articles.
If you want to volunteer for upcoming farm recovery events, check out: https://www.ruralaid.org.au/volunteers/
To donate to help fund this project and help rural communities, click here: https://www.ruralaid.org.au/donate
Story and Photos by Jaimie Robertson
