Hope and positivity In the face of adversity

In the last 18 months or so, we’ve heard from so many of our farmers that life feels like a never-ending cycle of hardship and disappointment. It’s just been one major disaster after another, and nobody appreciates this more than our friend Melissa and her two boys.

Melissa lives in Rockton, a small rural town located in the Snowy Monaro region. While Melissa and her sons were grateful to survive the bushfires, their property and home suffered massive damage.
The bushfires weren’t the only thing that tested Melissa’s strength. In the span of a year, Melissa’s partner left her,
bushfires ripped through her town, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
After five months of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, there was a long list of jobs that needed to be done on
Melissa’s property, and she and her young sons were overwhelmed with the thought of tackling them all.

With open arms, they welcomed our Frontier Services and NRMA Outback Links volunteers to get to work on their
list.  During the three days we spent with Melissa’s family, our volunteer team tackled a lengthy list of tasks, from repairing machinery to clearing out the paddocks.
In addition to the physical work that needed to be done, we lent emotional support to the family.

Whether that was a friendly chat over a cup of tea at the end of a hard day’s work or checking in with Melissa to see if they needed additional support moving forward, it was clear that our visit had taken a weight off Melissa’s shoulders. Melissa’s mother had travelled up from Victoria because she was concerned about her daughter’s isolation, and what she had just endured, but after seeing the difference we made in a few short days, Melissa’s mum said she was blown away by the support and care that Frontier Services provided.

When we asked Melissa what the next twelve months look like, she shared a beautiful message that speaks to the very core of why we do what we do. “I’m feeling a lot more positive,” she reported. “The bush is regenerating. The birds and wildlife are returning and we are so thankful for all of the help we have received.” The work we do is about so much than completing a list of jobs.

While we know that our practical support makes a world of difference in the lives of farmers like Melissa, it’s just as much about providing hope and positivity in the face of adversity.
It may have taken a year for the bush to start regenerating after the worst bushfire season in recorded history,
but after just 4 days of opening her home to us, Melissa and her sons are well on their way to a new beginning.

You make this wonderful work come to life through your support for Frontier Services.

On behalf of farmers like John and Melissa, and many more like them.
Thank you sincerely