It’s certainly no secret Parkes Shire farmers are struggling through one of the worst droughts in 50 years.
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The Parkes Shire Drought Forum, held at the Parkes Services Club on September 11 and hosted by Parkes Shire Council, shone a light on exactly how tough Parkes farmers are doing it.
But what also emerged from discussions that night was that Parkes Shire businesses are feeling the pinch too.
Parkes Chamber of Commerce president and local auctioneer Geoff Rice attended and spoke at the forum, saying the whole community is affected.
“I think that’s it, it’s not only farms it’s the community as a whole that’s going to struggle over the next 12-18 months,” he told the room of 90 people.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a stock agent, agronomist or a florist or a grocer or a farmer, it’s going to affect all of us and I think that’s going to be the biggest issue.
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“We do need these community things, we do need to talk to each other.
“This is something we’ve been discussing as a Chamber, not only with rural businesses but other businesses in town.”
Geoff said the Chamber has been working with the NSW Business Chamber, who has conducted drought surveys with Parkes and other Western NSW businesses to find ways to support them.
“We’re trying to work further up the chain, I know people have spoken about the lack of help from government or what have you, so the NSW Business Chamber is definitely working with the government to try and get as much as we can back into the rural area,” he said.
Geoff agreed there was a lack of coordination for fundraisers for the drought.
“I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve been asked to do charity auctions and it just gets to a point where you’re asking the community that’s struggling to donate that money,” he said.
“Everyone will do it because that’s the communities we are but I think we’ve got to work outside of our own areas, and work on a larger area and bring that money in.
“I think it really comes down to a coordination so we all in the community know where to get that money, how to get that money and so forth.
“From a business point of view, we’re trying as a Chamber to work together.”
A representative from Ron Dunfords Chemist spoke about the impacts they were experiencing, while also voicing his concerns for the physical and mental health of all farmers.
He said their script numbers compared to last year have dropped more than 20 per cent, and urged farmers to speak up for their health and get the help they need.
“As a general small business we’re hurting, I come up here once a month to see this pharmacy and the cars or lack thereof in town is the worst that I’ve seen in three years,” he said.
“The car park at the back of our pharmacy, even in the main street, people are not shopping.
“It’s the absolute flow-on that we have.”
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