“With drought conditions firmly entrenched in our area, there was a lot of discussion as to how we, as an organisation, could help our farming community,” a CWA spokesperson said.

“With this in mind, it was decided to donate up to $5000 to help our farmers. This will be done through vouchers, grocery hampers, and any other method that could be viable. A small committee will be responsible for the distribution of the money.”

The branch also welcomed a week-old baby Dorper lamb Aussie to the meeting. Aussie was abandoned by his mother at birth and is the model for the baby lamb jackets that members are knitting to help keep orphaned lambs warm.

Aussie featured on the ABC when Joe O’ Brien and a crew visited Gunnedah last Thursday  to do a segment on the knitting initiative. 

“This idea has swept the country after appearing on Facebook and ABC morning news and News 24. We have had calls from Melbourne, Murwillumbah, Port Macquarie, Bellingen, Sydney and other centres requesting the pattern,” a CWA spokesperson said.

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The branch recently made annual donations to various organisations and the CWA Association and the CWA Emergency fund. Patient emergency packs have been donated to the Gunnedah District Hospital again as they have used the ones previously donated.

The Namoi Group of the CWA needs help with its stall at site A23 at AgQuip on August 21023. Members are asked to donate cooking, handicrafts and to help man the shed.

To get a copy of the knitting pattern for the lamb jackets, phone Coralie Howe on 0427 427 911.