My title comes from the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner. The notion behind the title is that if Kevin Costner built a baseball stadium in rural Iowa people would come and watch a mythical team play. Costner showed faith and in great Hollywood fashion the people came.
Last Wednesday at Nyngan a farm family gathering was organised for the community with the hope that the community would come. As we all know real life does not always mirror the movies and and the people did not come.
The program organised by Drought Support Worker Pip Brown provided a showcase of the services available to farmers under the stress of drought. The services included Centrelink, Community Health, NSW Farmers, the Salvation Army and The Uniting Church represented by yours truly.
The highlight of the day was provided by John Harper who spoke candidly about his experience of depression and how he lives with his illness successfully. The small crowd was entertained and informed about how depression can be disabling and insidious but certainly not unbeatable.
I do not know for sure why there was not more people around for the day. It was mentioned that a lot of farmers were on tractors trying to take advantage of the recent rains. This is surely a good thing!
Kel Hodge
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