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Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn are showing their support for drought affected communities through participating in ‘Fiver for a Farmer’ to raise much needed funds for those affected. The loudest voice is that of our students whose families are experiencing the devastating effects of drought on their land first-hand. Students from St Joseph’s Primary School in Adelong pray:
“Please Lord help us with this horrifying drought. The devastation has sent farmers starving. It’s not just the farmers who suffer, children and women are affected to. Please send us a miracle to turn dust to rain, dirt to grass, skin and bones back to sheep, stumps to trees and more back to normal. As the scale of death is in your hands do not lean livestock towards it. Every animal in Australia is being affected by this unexpected turn of nature and balance. The desperate families affected by the drought have sold livestock in hope the remaining livestock will renew themselves. Each sprinkle of rain helps us to grow crops and also nourish and feed animals. With all sadness and suffering let us find happiness and joy. God, with all you have done we plead you to send us hope.” – Hugh
“Dear God, Help all farmers to look after our wonderful animals. We are grateful for what we have and we are lucky. We are suffering for our livestock. There is no money and no water, so help us. Rain on us just to help our money, starving animals. Renew the humble life, affecting struggling animals. There is no feed and we need help. All Farmers need your help. Come back rain we need your presence. Meatless livestock are hungry, dying in pain and are having to be shot. We are really trying just to help them. We need to help everyone and their animals. Everyday the farmers go out to help but they just need you got to give them rain. This is the worst it can get. Please help us to stop what is happening and make it better. The troughs and dams are empty and creeks are so thin. Help us with what is happening to us and our animals. Please, please, please help it to rain on our farms and all over Australia please. Amen.” – Eliza
“Dear Lord, Please help all the farmers that are suffering from this drought. Lots and lots of farmers are devastated because all their crops and animals are dying. Their land is all dried up and they have no water. Everything is starving and farmers are using so much money to feed their animals. The animals are starting to die because they have no water and no feed. The water has all dried up in their tanks and dams. The animals are suffering from hunger. All the grass and hay is drying up. Please bring us rain Lord. I am pleading with you to bring rain to all of our farmers. This is life affecting for all the farmers. Please, please, please bring us rain. Thank you Lord.” – Jayden
“Dear Lord, Please Lord, there is no water and for some there is no money or food. How can we get through this horrible and life affecting drought? Please can we have lots of rain? Livestock are meatless and skin and bones. Farms are in devastation. We are very lucky here that we have had little rain. In some places they have had no rain and everything is dry. Most farms have no water in their dams or troughs. Please a million times can these farms with dirt and no grass in sight have rain? They need a miracle. Most farmers are suffering in starvation. NSW, Queensland and Northern Victoria are pleading for rain. Please Lord can we have some rain?” – Anna
“Dear God, Can you please help us through this drought? There are animals that are suffering. There is no water in tanks and dams, so there is nothing to eat or drink. It is all dry and cracking the grounds. It is very dry. Every day the animals are running out of feed. The feed is costing a lot of money and the farmers are all suffering. Please help us. God can you help us bring rain to grow grass as all the animals are dying. There are no trees and no shade at all for the animals. They are all dying and the farmers are becoming poor. Animals are all suffering. Can you please, please help us?” – Harry
“Dear Lord, Can you please help us during this drought? All of our Aussie farmers are now having to feed their livestock every day. All of Australia is in this drought. People are eating boxed food because they have no money. They are spending all of their money on hay for their livestock. The men, women, children and animals of our country are starving. They are poor, hungry and thirsty. This is causing sadness, devastation, misery and even death. So please, please, please help us. Aussie farmers need rain, water and money. We are pleading with you to help us in this dusty and dry time. Our paddocks are dirt and the cattle and sheep that skin and bone. Please renew the ground on the farms and give us a lot of rain. This drought is life affecting to everyone. Please help us during this horrifying time. Please send us a miracle, our farmers are suffering. Amen.” – Matilda
“Dear Lord, Please let it rain, we need it for feed for our livestock. We need your help because all animals are suffering. The drought is destroying your creations. This is making our water tanks low and our dams turning to dirt. We ask you to make it rain very soon. If you don’t help us soon, the whole of Australia will turn to dirt. We are lucky in Adelong that we have some grass. Some farmers have no grass at all and they have to sell or shoot their livestock. The drought is affecting New South Wales, Victoria and parts of Queensland. The horrible, miserable drought needs to stop. Please help us. Thank you God, Amen.” – Charles
The St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn is calling on farmers, or others in the community affected by the drought to contact Vinnies for help on (02) 6282 2722. Vinnies will be able to provide immediate relief through food assistance and other household bill payments. Financial donations are the most effective way to quickly provide the right kind of assistance. To make an online donation, please visit www.vinnies.org.au/donate or donate at any local Vinnies shop in the Canberra/Goulburn region. All financial donations received in Vinnies shops Canberra/Goulburn between 6 August and the end of September will go towards the drought appeal.