Rural Aid Australia, Media Release, 4 August 2021
Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid, has closed applications for its $1 million mouse plague fund, with 1000 farmers set to benefit from the support.
Rural Aid opened the fund in June for farmers from many parts of the country whose livelihoods and incomes had been affected by the devastating mouse plague.
Each eligible farmer is being issued a $1000 pre-paid Visa card, which can be spent on whatever will help them recover from the mouse plague.
Mice numbers peaked in late autumn and early winter across most of eastern Australia.
Bingara farmer Robert Groth said he was very grateful to receive support from Rural Aid.
“Every little bit helps, my word it does,” Mr Groth said.
Mr Groth said he’d “never seen anything like it” during the peak of the plague.
“We got 54 mice in a trap on the veranda in one night. The worst thing is the smell of them,” Mr Groth said.
The mice numbers have largely steadied for now, which Rural Aid CEO John Warlters hopes will continue into spring.
“Rural Aid is proud to have been able to help farmers recover from yet another debilitating natural disaster,” Mr Warlters said.
“Applications for the $1 million fund are now closed. But Rural Aid will keep a close eye on mouse numbers into spring.”
Rural Aid is welcoming any farmers in need of assistance to get in touch. Rural Aid can be contacted on 1300 327 624, or by emailing contact@ruralaid.org.au
