Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 4:58:18 GMT 7
Drought: We did everything Centrelink told us to do
When The Armidale Express initially contacted Doreen White about the drought conditions on her family property Retreat, she said they were doing all right. "There are still some puddles in the river." she told us. But visiting the Whites' revealed a different story.
Doreen is a fourth generation farmer who still raises sheep and cattle with her two sons, Gary and Graham. They are about to run out of stock feed, money and water for their household tanks, but remain community minded, humble, courageous and believe the the drought will end.
Gary and Debbie White first sought assistance from Centrelink in 2015, when they filled in the paper work with a rural councillor, who advised them to put $0 income for the financial year on the forms.
Debbie said it all sounded straightforward.
"We were also advised at the time that if, by any chance, income went into the account to contact Centrelink and advise them as soon as possible, so the payments would be stopped," she said.
"We made our fortnightly reports and have reference numbers for all the times we did. We were on this for around eight months, then we had no choice other then to de-stock some of our cattle.
"Once this happened we reported this to Centrelink and advised them of this income. At the time, we had about $5000 income and nothing else other than the Centrelink payments.
This sudden appearance of "income" caused problems.
"However because we had put $0 income for that financial year, when we did sell the stock it made us go over. Now we have been told that we owe Centrelink around $18,000, and this was brought to our attention via a phone call in August 2018," Debbie said.
"Even now, we have no funds to pay this debit. We have no weekly wage coming into the household and the little money we do have goes towards keeping us and our current stock alive.
Gary thought it was probably hard for those with no experience of drought to understand.
"The drought is the longest one we have experienced. we will run out of money for feed in mid-September. We need help now and am not sure where it will come from."
"I have lost nearly 70 cattle that seeking water in muddy waterholes, [they] get stuck and they have died. Some die to having trouble calving and other things, but we lost them last year," he said.
"The sheep we had were doing similar things, having trouble having lambs and getting stuck in water holes, but they are bit hardy and they didn't need the same amount of water as cattle.
"You can feed stock but you can't cart water. Again the time involved in pumping water, the costs involved in generators and diesel. It's a never ending job if you start thinking about pumping water into troughs.
Gary said they had 40 head of cattle drinking 1800 litres a day.
"We have leased land that we have, used stock routes and some paddocks, but the cost of fuel, let alone the time involved as we are also feeding; we can't keep an eye on stock that are stuck," she said.
"In a drought you never know what is around the corner. There is no certainty around wages. If you have a normal job then you know your fortnightly pay and sick leave, but with farming you have an annual income that you try very hard to manage during the following year.
"This year, after having sold stock because of the drought, with what I have left I am spending $1900 a week on hay and cotton meal.
"There is nothing left at the end of September."
Doreen White learnt about farming from her grandfather. Doreen turns 78 next February is surrounded by neighbours that she can't see but has known for years.
"I have done my share of work. I only drive the ute now to help the boys feed the stock but you know I use to have a truck license. I use to drive a ten tonne truck to the sale yards I had the license for 27 years but they have taken it off me now.
"I make jams and pickles, giving them away makes me, happy and I feel part of the bush," she said.
"People probably think I am old bushy but I love my chooks and my guinea fowls.
"I can go where I want to, I am free."
The Department of Agriculture has responded to our request and we will publish that response on Monday.
www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/6350150/farmers-battling-centrelink-as-well-as-the-drought/?cs=471&fbclid=IwAR2_PLiUBS4-pju1wQvX3eUJBRN0luujwCESwFybZm_-lvE_q-TUBY5ZZ1Y
When The Armidale Express initially contacted Doreen White about the drought conditions on her family property Retreat, she said they were doing all right. "There are still some puddles in the river." she told us. But visiting the Whites' revealed a different story.
Doreen is a fourth generation farmer who still raises sheep and cattle with her two sons, Gary and Graham. They are about to run out of stock feed, money and water for their household tanks, but remain community minded, humble, courageous and believe the the drought will end.
Gary and Debbie White first sought assistance from Centrelink in 2015, when they filled in the paper work with a rural councillor, who advised them to put $0 income for the financial year on the forms.
Debbie said it all sounded straightforward.
"We were also advised at the time that if, by any chance, income went into the account to contact Centrelink and advise them as soon as possible, so the payments would be stopped," she said.
"We made our fortnightly reports and have reference numbers for all the times we did. We were on this for around eight months, then we had no choice other then to de-stock some of our cattle.
"Once this happened we reported this to Centrelink and advised them of this income. At the time, we had about $5000 income and nothing else other than the Centrelink payments.
This sudden appearance of "income" caused problems.
"However because we had put $0 income for that financial year, when we did sell the stock it made us go over. Now we have been told that we owe Centrelink around $18,000, and this was brought to our attention via a phone call in August 2018," Debbie said.
"Even now, we have no funds to pay this debit. We have no weekly wage coming into the household and the little money we do have goes towards keeping us and our current stock alive.
Gary thought it was probably hard for those with no experience of drought to understand.
"The drought is the longest one we have experienced. we will run out of money for feed in mid-September. We need help now and am not sure where it will come from."
"I have lost nearly 70 cattle that seeking water in muddy waterholes, [they] get stuck and they have died. Some die to having trouble calving and other things, but we lost them last year," he said.
"The sheep we had were doing similar things, having trouble having lambs and getting stuck in water holes, but they are bit hardy and they didn't need the same amount of water as cattle.
"You can feed stock but you can't cart water. Again the time involved in pumping water, the costs involved in generators and diesel. It's a never ending job if you start thinking about pumping water into troughs.
Gary said they had 40 head of cattle drinking 1800 litres a day.
"We have leased land that we have, used stock routes and some paddocks, but the cost of fuel, let alone the time involved as we are also feeding; we can't keep an eye on stock that are stuck," she said.
"In a drought you never know what is around the corner. There is no certainty around wages. If you have a normal job then you know your fortnightly pay and sick leave, but with farming you have an annual income that you try very hard to manage during the following year.
"This year, after having sold stock because of the drought, with what I have left I am spending $1900 a week on hay and cotton meal.
"There is nothing left at the end of September."
Doreen White learnt about farming from her grandfather. Doreen turns 78 next February is surrounded by neighbours that she can't see but has known for years.
"I have done my share of work. I only drive the ute now to help the boys feed the stock but you know I use to have a truck license. I use to drive a ten tonne truck to the sale yards I had the license for 27 years but they have taken it off me now.
"I make jams and pickles, giving them away makes me, happy and I feel part of the bush," she said.
"People probably think I am old bushy but I love my chooks and my guinea fowls.
"I can go where I want to, I am free."
The Department of Agriculture has responded to our request and we will publish that response on Monday.
www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/6350150/farmers-battling-centrelink-as-well-as-the-drought/?cs=471&fbclid=IwAR2_PLiUBS4-pju1wQvX3eUJBRN0luujwCESwFybZm_-lvE_q-TUBY5ZZ1Y
