Rural Aid is delivering a much-needed Farm Recovery Event (FRE) this week in Bairnsdale, supporting local farmers still reeling from years of devastating natural disasters.
The week-long event will bring together skilled volunteers to assist with practical on-farm work and provide critical emotional and community support to farming families. The FRE will see volunteers help with fencing repairs, yard maintenance, vegetation clearing,
and small construction tasks – all aimed at helping farmers get back on their feet.
East Gippsland, a region known for its beef and dairy farming, has endured a relentless series of challenges in recent years: the catastrophic 2020–21 Black Summer Bushfires, back-to-back floods in 2021 and 2022, destructive storms in 2023, and the ongoing impacts of a “green drought”. Despite the land’s appearance of vitality, moisture deficits have severely hindered pasture and crop growth, compounding the pressure on
local producers.
Rural Aid chief executive officer John Warlters said the FRE will provide a critical morale boost for farming families.
“Our Farm Recovery Events do more than fix fences — they help rebuild lives. After years of trauma and relentless setbacks, our farmers need to know they’re not alone. This week is about connection, hope, and putting hands and hearts to work,” Mr Warlters said.
The FRE will also feature mental health support, morning teas, and community connection events. A Rural Aid counsellor will be on-site throughout the week to offer support to farming families doing it tough.
Local East Gippsland beef farmer and FRE host, Peter Treasure, says the help couldn’t come at a better time.
“Since taking over the farm after my father passed, it’s been a constant juggling act — managing everything on
my own, dealing with regular flooding, and caring for my mother,” he said.
“There’s always more to do than time allows, and tasks like fence repairs or general upkeep often get put off. These jobs aren’t any less important—they just tend to get pushed aside when more urgent things come up.
“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming farm recovery event with Rural Aid. The opportunity to have volunteers come out and help will make a huge difference, allowing me to catch up on vital work. It’s a relief to know that there’s support available and that I won’t have to do everything alone,” he said.
In addition to the physical work, the FRE invests back into the East Gippsland economy by sourcing food, accommodation, and materials locally, ensuring the benefits of the event extend well beyond the farm gates.
Rural Aid volunteer Peter Holland, who’s attending his 11th FRE, says the events are as rewarding for volunteers as they are for farmers.
“It’s a privilege to be part of something so meaningful. You get your hands dirty, share a few laughs, and you leave knowing you’ve made a real difference in someone’s life,” he said.
