With the entire state of NSW now impacted by drought some of our regional farmers were treated to a well-earned break last weekend.
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Alectown farmers Elizabeth and Graham Mulligan were able to get away from it all, if only for a night, after they won tickets to the Black Tie and Boots Ball in Bathurst.
The sold-out formal fundraiser for Rural Aid was held last Saturday night.
The Mulligan’s daughter Rebecca nominated her parents for the event after Fairfax Media called for the community to nominate farmers who were doing it tough to score two tickets to the ball.
“It was an excellent night,” Elizabeth said.
“We are very grateful to have been chosen. We wouldn’t have gone otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to.”
The tickets were donated by Rural Aid ambassadors Grant and Chezzi Denyer, along with Macquarie Medi Spa and Hynash with the Denyers selecting the twenty winners from the nominations.
“We were able to thank Grant Denyer at the door,” Elizabeth said.
“He had all the winners sitting on the one table or very close.
“We had the opportunity to meet other farmers from around the region.”
The couple have been married for 29 years and have five children, two of them still living at home.
They grow sheep and crops on their farm “Hillcrest”.
With no sign of the drought easing the Mulligans have had to start selling off their ewes, taking 250 head to the sale yards this week.
“It’s tough, but we are not doing it as tough as some people,” Elizabeth said.
“Getting fodder is hard. We can’t buy anymore so we have to either make what we have last or sell stock.
“But we are not at the stage yet where we have to sell our main breeders.”
A target of was $150,000 was raised at the event and will be donated to Rural Aid.
The organisation will look to employ a specialised counsellor on the ground to help tackle the mental health problems associated with the drought.
Elizabeth said it was amazing to watch the generosity flow during the fundraising auction at the ball.
“Items went for way more than their value,” she said.
“All the people hosting these balls around the country are doing it off their own bat.
“It truly is heartwarming to see how communities are getting behind their farmers.”
Held at the Bathurst Goldfields, Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer was the MC for the night.
Australian Idol winner and Eurovision contestant Guy Sebastian was the star performer with the Heydays, including Bathrust musician Kyle Manning, the supporting act.
