News & Media
For media enquiries please contact Farming for Kids President, Charles Hill m.0428 658 149
or view our Facebook page for updates.
or view our Facebook page for updates.
Please see below for links to emails and newsletters
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9th April 2021
Email to Members & Supporters 
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2020 Newsletter
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2019 Newsletter
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2018 Newsletter
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2017 Christmas email - Newsletter #2
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2017 Newsletter #1
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2016 Newsletter #2
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2016 Newsletter #1
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2015 Newsletter #2
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2015 Newsletter #1
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2014 Newsletter #2
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2014 Newsletter #1
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August 2022 - GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP
We are thrilled to feature in the Manildra Group publication ‘The Cultivator’ celebrating 70 years of their business. We would also like to take the opportunity to again thank them, and Chairman Dick Honan for the donation they gave to us after the drought impacts. Thanks to the significant donation we were able to continue assisting children and young people across the Liverpool Plains - after the drought. Congratulations to the Honan family on your 70 years of successes and generosity. |
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August 2021
Thank you Jen Ingall and ABC Landline for this great piece on our volunteer group. |
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Friday 23rd April, 2021
For all the action at the airport with the Farming for Kids sorghum harvest follow the link below: https://www.prime7.com.au/news/7464042-farming-for-kids |
Courtesy of New England Living Magazine - Autumn 2018 Volume 11
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AN ENTERPRISING CROPPING program and a group of dedicated Quirindi volunteers with an innovative community approach are at the heart of the Farming for Kids (FFK) charity on the Liverpool Plains. The group, which comprises people drawn from across the community, has donated more than $80,000 to assist local and disadvantaged children since it kicked off four years ago, and the funding meter is still ticking over, with the community reaping the benefits.
In 2017, FFK donated more than $27,000 throughout the local community to individuals, schools, sporting clubs and healthcare operators, and in November the group was recognised with the Northern Inland Innovation Award for Community Service. “Farming for Kids offers an inspiring blueprint for other farming districts,” commented judges. “So impressed with the group and what it’s doing, the award’s organisers created a new category for FFK,” says FFK president and farmer, Charles Hill from ‘Karapiti’, Pine Ridge. Charles founded the not-for-profit incorporated FFK with the help of a number of local farmers, starting with a couple of dozen members in 2013. Today this number has risen to about 35, with people discovering the group by word of mouth. “FFK is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of children across the Liverpool Plains,” says Charles. |
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The group drew inspiration from a similar project underway in Central Queensland. During an agricultural tour of the region in the early 2000s, Charles noticed a small school in the Emerald district had some impressive facilities for its size and got talking to the local farmers. It turned out the farmers had initially started cropping roadsides to raise money to fund the cost of keeping the school’s second teacher, but once that had been achieved the locals decided to keep the project running.
If such an initiative could work in Central Queensland, Charles reasoned, why wouldn’t something similar work at home? The support of a group of like-minded farmers was all that was needed, along with some suitable land. An area surrounding Quirindi Airport which offered up to 60 hectares was identified as suitable, and a lease agreement reached for the long-term project with Council.
If such an initiative could work in Central Queensland, Charles reasoned, why wouldn’t something similar work at home? The support of a group of like-minded farmers was all that was needed, along with some suitable land. An area surrounding Quirindi Airport which offered up to 60 hectares was identified as suitable, and a lease agreement reached for the long-term project with Council.
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The FFK project officially kicked off in late 2013, however, dry seasonal conditions meant a summer crop was postponed in favour of a wheat crop in autumn 2014. Charles says that year the group also held a Melbourne Cup fundraising day in November, and when combined with the returns of that first wheat crop, an initial $50,000 was raised for the donation kitty. That wheat crop has since been followed by sorghum crops in 2015 and 2016 to boost the tally to more than $80,000 raised.
Not every year produces a 60-hectare crop, as seasonal conditions and rotations need to be taken into consideration. Last year proved too dry again for cropping, so the land was fallowed in preparation for the 2018 winter cropping season. Despite the dry summer, Charles says the group hopes to sow a wheat crop in June. The ground is already prepared, so all that’s needed is rain. The charity’s beneficiaries had been wide ranging, including individuals, preschools, primary schools and Quirindi High School. It has assisted with activities such as a mental health program, a school kitchen garden and paddock-to-plate programs, while also donating funds towards the development of a community hub at Werris Creek, the local basketball club and other sporting clubs, and contributed towards the purchase of baby monitoring equipment for Quirindi Hospital. |
“We look for where we can help in the community, that’s the Aussie tradition. It’s great to see the land surrounding the airport which was being underutilised, now producing an income that benefits children in the area,” says Charles.
Liaising with community groups, including Probus, the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Quota, Royal Far West and Lions, helps FFK better understand where their funds could make the most difference. For example, FFK worked with Rotary in early 2017 to assist Quirindi High School Year 12 student Wade Clarke attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra, as well as later provide scholarship funds towards the Joan Carpenter Music Awards.
Liaising with community groups, including Probus, the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Quota, Royal Far West and Lions, helps FFK better understand where their funds could make the most difference. For example, FFK worked with Rotary in early 2017 to assist Quirindi High School Year 12 student Wade Clarke attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra, as well as later provide scholarship funds towards the Joan Carpenter Music Awards.
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“As a group we look to develop relationships that will improve our understanding of where we can help the most, and it’s working with other community groups that will help us achieve that end.” Charles said this meant the group’s charity guidelines were not static, but rather being developed all the time to allow FFK to better be able to assist local children. The most recent example of this is the development of the $5000 Farming for Kids Agricultural Scholarship, which was presented in late 2017 to Quirindi High School Year 10 student Casey Clarke, who wants to pursue a career as an agriculture teacher.
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The FFK website went live in late 2016, and Charles said this has helped spread the word about the group’s work promoting agriculture and community, and how the group can help. “The decisions about where the funds are directed are made with regard to our application guidelines, and now we have a few years of operation we’re starting to get a wider range of applications,” says Charles. “We place emphasis on projects with sustainability and longevity, and there needs to be drive and passion among those behind the projects. We want to provide assistance where it makes a real difference to a child’s life – and a difference that wouldn’t happen without that funding.”
While the group has helped individuals on a number of occasions, and in emergency situations, Charles said applications would be considered for any child in the area for any circumstance. Since setting up the group, Charles said FFK members had learned of similar projects, either operating or having done so in the past, near Albury in southern NSW, as well as at Coonabarabran and Wee Waa in the north of the state. “This sort of project can easily be duplicated in other areas across Australia,” he says. “All you need to do is find suitable land. We started with overgrown land but have turned that around with time and effort.”
Local farmers and contractors donate time and labour for ground preparation work and sowing, while local businesses donate the necessary cropping inputs and a number of local agronomists donate their time and skills monitoring the annual crops.
FFK is sponsored by: Agracom Quirindi; Amps Quirindi and Tamworth; Pursehouse Rural Quirindi; Liverpool Plains Groundspray Quirindi; McKnight Signs Tamworth; Nurural Quirindi; RaboBank Tamworth; Forsyths Tamworth; and Pacific Seeds
While the group has helped individuals on a number of occasions, and in emergency situations, Charles said applications would be considered for any child in the area for any circumstance. Since setting up the group, Charles said FFK members had learned of similar projects, either operating or having done so in the past, near Albury in southern NSW, as well as at Coonabarabran and Wee Waa in the north of the state. “This sort of project can easily be duplicated in other areas across Australia,” he says. “All you need to do is find suitable land. We started with overgrown land but have turned that around with time and effort.”
Local farmers and contractors donate time and labour for ground preparation work and sowing, while local businesses donate the necessary cropping inputs and a number of local agronomists donate their time and skills monitoring the annual crops.
FFK is sponsored by: Agracom Quirindi; Amps Quirindi and Tamworth; Pursehouse Rural Quirindi; Liverpool Plains Groundspray Quirindi; McKnight Signs Tamworth; Nurural Quirindi; RaboBank Tamworth; Forsyths Tamworth; and Pacific Seeds
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Edible Gardening Werris Creek Public School
An expanded kitchen garden program and a new computer lab and research area have been made possible at Werris Creek Public School thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Farming for Kids (FFK) charity. The school’s relieving principal, David Lewis, says the kitchen garden program, established in 2015 by then school principal Leonie Bryne, includes three garden beds, a chicken shed and three citrus trees. “The Farming for Kids grant has enabled us to add two new conventional garden beds as well as six wicking beds to the vegetable patch. We’ve fitted out a kitchen for the students to use and created a computer lab with 10 new laptops giving students access to the internet in a safe and controlled environment.” |
Students from Years 4, 5 and 6 spend regular class time in the kitchen, which includes cooking lunch for the staff on Thursdays. “The school runs a breakfast club five days a week and most students use it, and this provides not only nutritional benefit but also social interaction,” says David. Children from Kindergarten to Year 3 are responsible for looking after the vegetable patch and chickens, assisted by a school ‘garden club’ of 15 to 20 students which helps out in the garden during lunch breaks.
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The project is part of the school’s strategic direction for the next three years, with the aim of providing students with important life skills and encourage healthy eating habits. The school encourages community involvement with the kitchen garden program, and so far, has received assistance and advice from the Werris Creek Gardening Club, and is also keen to include the local branch of the Country Women’s Association of NSW and the Men’s Shed.
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YouTube - Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) | 30 November 2017
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Farming For Kids Innovative Community Contribution NIIA 2017 As reported in our December 2017 Newsletter follow the link to see the Farming for Kids movie stars and see what happens when you think you are turning up for a chat with Northern Inland Innovation Award organisers ...
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Quirindi Advocate | 29 November 2017
Innovation Awards The Liverpool Plains region featured strongly in the recent Northern Inland Innovations Awards held in Armidale last Friday night, with five finalist nominations from the shire resulting in two wins, two final five spots and a Highly Commended award. Local charity ‘Farming for Kids’ operated by a small group of dedicated volunteers won the Innovative Community Contribution award. Nick Pearce, Head of Relationship Management for Rabobank, Armidale, a sponsor of the charity, collected the prize on behalf of ‘Farming for Kids’ from NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events and the Assistant Minister for Skills, Adam Marshall. |
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“We are delighted to receive the award as our project may inspire other farmers in different areas to set up a charity based on our operations. Our overall objective is to benefit the health and well-being of children in our shire and we would like to thank all of our
supporters, sponsors and helpers, we couldn’t operate without you,” said the group’s President, Charles Hill.
The Northern Inland Innovations Awards are an annual awards program aimed at recognising and encouraging businesses, individuals and organisations, who are responsible for developing some of this nation’s leading innovative products and approaches across a broad range of industry sectors ... (extract from article by Sally Alden)
supporters, sponsors and helpers, we couldn’t operate without you,” said the group’s President, Charles Hill.
The Northern Inland Innovations Awards are an annual awards program aimed at recognising and encouraging businesses, individuals and organisations, who are responsible for developing some of this nation’s leading innovative products and approaches across a broad range of industry sectors ... (extract from article by Sally Alden)
The Land | 20 April 2017 - Team of volunteers brings in charity crop - by Ruth Schwager
Charity harvest volunteers Lindsay Maybury, Maybury Harvesting; Michael Robinson, employee at "Karapiti", Quirindi,
& Ian Carter, "Connamara", Quirindi, at this year's harvest. Photo by Sally Alden |
AN IDEA from a local farmer to make use of land around the Quirindi airport has grown into a successful charity supporting local children, with the latest sorghum crop harvested last week. Local farmers and contractors volunteered their time to harvest the 140-tonne crop of Buster sorghum last Tuesday, with two headers, two chaser bins and four trucks working to get the crop off in one day.
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About 15 years ago, Charles Hill, "Karapiti", Quirindi, was part of an agricultural tour of Queensland looking at different farming systems. "We were out the back of Emerald somewhere and I noticed this school that had great facilities," Mr Hill said. "I was talking to local farmers about it and a few of them had got together and were farming the side of the roads. They started that to fund an extra teacher, but once the school had employed the second teacher, they had tennis courts and a pool."
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FFK 2013 wheat crop around the Quirindi Airport
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The image was stuck in Mr Hill's mind when he flew back to Quirindi. "I was looking at the area around the airport and I remember thinking crops would be a good idea there." Once the space around the airport – about 40 hectares – became available, a group of local farmers decided to take on the project.
“We started as a handful of farmers, but we had about 20 people at the first big meeting, and now we’re up to about 30 members,” Mr Hill said.
The land is leased from the Liverpool Plains Shire Council, with Rabobank covering the cost of the lease.
All inputs – seed, fertiliser and chemical – are donated by businesses. Pacific Seeds and Pioneer Seeds provide the seed, and Pursehouse Rural, NuRural and AMPS Commercial donate the chemical and fertiliser. Peter Slade and Bruce Fulloon from Techspray and Bob Sipple from Liverpool Plains Ground Spraying looking after the spraying, and the marketing is handled by Agracom. It also takes quite the team of volunteers – farmers and contractors – to plant and get the crop off.
Scott McInnes, “Eastview”, Quirindi volunteered his time, machinery and labour to sow the crop in November last year. Peter Bailey, “Gunnadilly”, Quirindi, has planted previous crops. At harvest, Mr Hill provided a header, chaser bin and truck. The second header came from Lindsay Maybury, Maybury Harvesting, a second chaser bin was supplied by Grayson Gulliver, Dimby Station, Quirindi, and the other three trucks came from the Carter family, “Connamara”, Quirindi, and the Brownhill family, “Merrilong”, Spring Ridge.
The charity has donated more than $65,000 to schools, community groups and individuals in the Liverpool Plains Shire Council over the past three years. Among the recipients are Wallabadah School, Quirindi Hospital Paediatric Ward, Quirindi Pre School, Eastside Day Care, Quirindi Basketball Club, the Anglican Church in Quirindi, Spring Ridge Primary School, Quirindi Junior Rugby Club and Quirindi High School. Donations have ranged from $1900 for a barbecue and water bottles to $8000 for the establishment of an ongoing mental health first aid course at the local high school.
The charity also helped Quirindi High School year 12 student Wade Clarke attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) in Canberra, with Farming for Kids donating $1500 towards his expenses to attend.
“We started as a handful of farmers, but we had about 20 people at the first big meeting, and now we’re up to about 30 members,” Mr Hill said.
The land is leased from the Liverpool Plains Shire Council, with Rabobank covering the cost of the lease.
All inputs – seed, fertiliser and chemical – are donated by businesses. Pacific Seeds and Pioneer Seeds provide the seed, and Pursehouse Rural, NuRural and AMPS Commercial donate the chemical and fertiliser. Peter Slade and Bruce Fulloon from Techspray and Bob Sipple from Liverpool Plains Ground Spraying looking after the spraying, and the marketing is handled by Agracom. It also takes quite the team of volunteers – farmers and contractors – to plant and get the crop off.
Scott McInnes, “Eastview”, Quirindi volunteered his time, machinery and labour to sow the crop in November last year. Peter Bailey, “Gunnadilly”, Quirindi, has planted previous crops. At harvest, Mr Hill provided a header, chaser bin and truck. The second header came from Lindsay Maybury, Maybury Harvesting, a second chaser bin was supplied by Grayson Gulliver, Dimby Station, Quirindi, and the other three trucks came from the Carter family, “Connamara”, Quirindi, and the Brownhill family, “Merrilong”, Spring Ridge.
The charity has donated more than $65,000 to schools, community groups and individuals in the Liverpool Plains Shire Council over the past three years. Among the recipients are Wallabadah School, Quirindi Hospital Paediatric Ward, Quirindi Pre School, Eastside Day Care, Quirindi Basketball Club, the Anglican Church in Quirindi, Spring Ridge Primary School, Quirindi Junior Rugby Club and Quirindi High School. Donations have ranged from $1900 for a barbecue and water bottles to $8000 for the establishment of an ongoing mental health first aid course at the local high school.
The charity also helped Quirindi High School year 12 student Wade Clarke attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) in Canberra, with Farming for Kids donating $1500 towards his expenses to attend.
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“People can go to our website and download the application form that has all the guidelines to apply for funding, then we sift through them and work out if a project fits within our guidelines and whether it’s something we would fund,” Mr Hill said. “The success of the charity is in the projects that we fund. Raising money is one thing, but it’s about having really good projects that make a difference in the community.
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Quirindi Advocate | 19 April 2017 - Farmers benefitting our kids
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Quirindi Advocate | 23 November 2016
With the support of volunteer farmers, businesses and agricultural experts, local charity, Farming for Kids continues to support the health and well-being of children in the Liverpool Plains shire. The volunteer group, which harvests and sells crops grown on leased land near the Quirindi airport to raise funds, has donated over $65,000 since 2013 to the community in aide of local children. |
Farming For Kids President, Charles Hill
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Last Thursday, producer Scott McInnes, volunteered his time, machinery and labour to sow a sorghum crop, which when harvested in May 2017 will raise funds for the charity. Farming for Kids president Charles Hill, said on behalf of the group he would like to thank all the volunteers involved.
“Crop costs are donated, with farmers, like Scott McInnes and Mick Cudmore, donating their time, machinery, expertise and diesel, Agracom look after the crop marketing, and Pursehouse Rural, Nurural, Amps Commercial, Pacific Seeds, Wengfu Australia and Syngenta all combine to donate seeds, chemical and fertiliser.”
“We also have to thank Peter Slade and Bruce Fulloon from Spraytech and Bob Sipple from Liverpool Plains Ground Spraying for volunteering their time and resources to ensure the best outcome for the crop.”
Funds raised from the crops go towards local schools and helping sick children and families in Quirindi and surrounds.
The charity has given money to local individuals, preschools, primary schools in their local shire and to the Quirindi High School.
“We’ve helped with a mental health and development program at our local High School and given money to local primary schools who are building kitchens and running paddock to plate programs.”
In conjunction with fundraising for local children, Farming for Kids promotes the importance of farming to the Liverpool Plains community and the national economy, and supports and partners with other community organisations.
“We are just about to launch our new website, which will enable those in need to apply for funding online if they need, and it’s a way for people in our community to see what our charity is about and feel connected with us.”
“Crop costs are donated, with farmers, like Scott McInnes and Mick Cudmore, donating their time, machinery, expertise and diesel, Agracom look after the crop marketing, and Pursehouse Rural, Nurural, Amps Commercial, Pacific Seeds, Wengfu Australia and Syngenta all combine to donate seeds, chemical and fertiliser.”
“We also have to thank Peter Slade and Bruce Fulloon from Spraytech and Bob Sipple from Liverpool Plains Ground Spraying for volunteering their time and resources to ensure the best outcome for the crop.”
Funds raised from the crops go towards local schools and helping sick children and families in Quirindi and surrounds.
The charity has given money to local individuals, preschools, primary schools in their local shire and to the Quirindi High School.
“We’ve helped with a mental health and development program at our local High School and given money to local primary schools who are building kitchens and running paddock to plate programs.”
In conjunction with fundraising for local children, Farming for Kids promotes the importance of farming to the Liverpool Plains community and the national economy, and supports and partners with other community organisations.
“We are just about to launch our new website, which will enable those in need to apply for funding online if they need, and it’s a way for people in our community to see what our charity is about and feel connected with us.”
Quirindi Advocate | 27 January 2016 - Funding for kids
Quirindi Advocate | 4 December 2013 - Farming for kids set to fly
29th December 2022 - Wheat Harvest
23rd April 2021 - Sorghum harvest
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Thank you Sally Alden
for the harvest clip
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Sorghum April 2021
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2015 Race day at the Runway
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2015 Race day at the Runway auction action
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2015 Race day at the Runway - food glorious food
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