General News
5 July, 2025
MP welcomes rain
The recent rainfall across the region has been a welcome relief for many in our farming communities.
After months of dry and difficult conditions, even a little rain can lift spirits and offer a glimmer of hope.
While we are grateful for what we have received, the broader drought challenge remains, and so does the need for real and targeted support from the Allan Labor Government.
The government's current approach to drought assistance continues to fall short.
Our farming families are resilient, but they need more than token gestures.
They need support that is practical, immediate and delivered where it is needed most.
Help should be reaching people on the ground now, not buried in bureaucracy or delayed by red tape needing dollar for dollar funding for infrastructure.
Last week marked Men’s Health Week, and it is a timely reminder that looking after our communities includes looking after ourselves, especially the men who often put their health last.
Tragically, men are more likely than women to suffer strokes, yet fewer know the common signs.
The Stroke Foundation’s “Bloke Beside You” campaign is all about changing that by encouraging men to talk to their mates and families about the warning signs of stroke: Face, Arms, Speech, Time (F.A.S.T.).
The National Centre for Farmer Health also deserves a shout out this week.
Their work in supporting the physical and mental health of our rural communities is more important than ever so if you have a chance to stop and have a health check at an event the Centre is attending, I encourage you to do so.
So while the rain gives us a reason to be hopeful, it is also a moment to reflect on the health and wellbeing of the people who make our region what it is and do whatever it is you need to do to nurture your own mental health.
Let’s look out for one another, on the land and in life.