Rotary Clubs in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region recently went out on the road visiting rotarians in drought stricken communities in rural New South wales.
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After months of local fundraising efforts, local rotarians boarded a bus on Friday, May 31, bound for Narrabri ready for three days of fun and fellowship.
The drought relief trip was the brainchild of Wauchope Rotarian Patti Parsons who came up with the idea as a means of showing support for friends in drought.
Wauchope Rotary Club president, Reg Pierce, said the whole trip had been an excellent success.
"Patti deserves our heartfelt thanks for the work she has put in to make the event as successful as it was," Mr Pierce said.
"Nothing was missed and no effort was spared to make sure we all had an enjoyable time as we showed support for our Narrabri friends."
Mr Pierce said the trip had started with lollies and water in Wauchope and ended with roadtrippers saying it was the trip of a lifetime.
"We were all handed an itinerary as we boarded and bottled water was provided along with biscuits and slices," he said.
"Later on, jelly babies, chocolate almonds and snakes were even handed out."
Despite all the fun and festivities from those living by the coast, the trip itself was made due to the real and ongoing struggles of those living in severe drought.
"Fellow rotarian Brian Beesley managed to secure a bus from Newcombe's buses free of charge and that meant we were able to give a donation of around $2,000 to Narrabri Rotary for their own drought project.
"On the Friday night we were hosted by the Rotary Club of Narrabri at their club meeting, where we shared good fellowship.
We were then given a tour around some of the local properties which was a sobering reality check where we gained a sense of what people are going through
- Reg Pierce
"The next day we all did a bit of retail therapy which was well received by the locals.
"When they realised who we were and the reason why we had come, we received comments such as 'you came all that way for us?' and 'thank you for caring' and 'we really appreciate what you've done'."
"In the afternoon we were given a tour of AUSCOT cotton gin which was very informative.
"We were then given a tour around some of the local properties which was a sobering reality check where we gained a sense of what people are going through."
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