Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shire Councils are calling on local residents, farmers, business people and key stakeholders to attend the Castlereagh Country Drought Resilience and Innovation Showcase, which will take place at the Baradine Memorial Hall on Thursday November 20 at 9am.

The free event is aimed at building resilience and empowering communities off the back of a community consultation in 2024, and is supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.

A line up of speakers hope to showcase tools and technologies to assist in times of drought.

Hosted by Kaitie Nash local farmer and social media agriculture advocate, Kaitie will be joined by experts in finance, innovation, research and mental health, providing guidelines for future drought.

• Resilience Specialist from Projence and project manager for the Castlereagh Country Drought Resilience Plan Dr Andrew Krause.

• Brooke Watts, a dynamic agribusiness professional from BRALCA who will explore how ag tech can strengthen drought preparedness and response.

• Associate Professor from the University of Newcastle, Dr Anthony Kiem, who specialises in understanding the drivers and impacts of climate variability.

• Gabrielle Schultz from the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, who works specifically with mental health in the farming community.

• Bede Young, Commercial Banking Manager from Rabobank with a passionate for driving growth and building relationships. 

Kaitie Nash Farmer and Influencer will host the event to be held at Baradine Hall [Image supplied]

The event is one of several priority implementation items identified and endorsed by the community as part of the Castlereagh Country Drought Plan.

Funded through the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, the Program is joint funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government, under the Future Drought Fund.

Speaker Brooke Watts said she is looking forward to connecting and passing on information about Ag Tech for future drought conditions that may help people navigate through difficulties.

“The Baradine Drought Resilience and innovation showcase will be a great opportunity for growers and business leaders and industry representatives to develop skills in essential planning and to future proof their operations,” said Ms Watts.

“Australia is country with a history of drought, and our region knows all too well the impacts, both economically and socially, extended periods of dry and drought can have on our communities,” said Warrumbungle Shire Council General Manager Lindsay Mason.

“But it’s not just agriculture and farming that suffers. The impacts of extended dry seasons and droughts stretch far beyond, bringing uncertainty and strain to our local communities, businesses and the broader economy.

“It is vital we are prepared for the next ‘big dry’ and have the tools in place now to diversify local economies and foster community connection,” said Mr Mason.

One of the speakers for the Showcase Bede Young of Rabobank [Image supplied]

Bede Young of Rabobank will speak at the event and says sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan and no one knows this better than those involved with farming and agriculture.

“I am looking forward to talking about building business resilience throughout the business cycle.

“To support this Rabobank, either directly or through our client councils offer things like financial literary courses and succession planning workshops.

“The bank also monitors natural disasters and will add additional supports during these times via extra staff or access to restructure facilities,” said Mr Young.

Gilgandra Shire Council General Manager David Neeves says the upcoming event in Baradine will be an opportunity for residents, local business and key stakeholders in the region to hear from experts that can provide them with the tools needed to get through tough times that drought brings.

“Building resilience is crucial for rural communities because it supports economic stability, social and mental wellbeing, and environmental sustainability,” said Mr Neeves.

“We want to deliver tangible outcomes and for our communities to walk away from this Showcase event with cutting-edge solutions, inspiration, and grassroots strategies. We want you to engage and collaborate with other community members to share knowledge, strengthen ties, and unleash the power of people. We want to support positive mental health and social wellbeing.

“But most of all we want to empower communities across the Gilgandra and Warrumbungle regions to not only withstand future droughts, but to thrive through collective strength and ingenuity.”

“We understand the timing of this event isn’t ideal for the farming community, who are in the midst of harvest,” added Mr Neeves.

“That’s why we’ll be filming the Showcase and also recording a podcast, to ensure those who can’t make it to Baradine can still access the valuable conversations and insights shared by our experts.”

 Resilience Specialist from Projence and project manager for the Castlereagh Country Drought Resilience Plan Dr Andrew Krause is set to speak at the upcoming Showcase [Image supplied]

A Drought Communication Strategy and Groundwater Access Toolkit is being developed, with the aim to help both Councils and the wider community prepare for, manage and recover from the impacts of drought.

The Communication Strategy will provide clear guidance and tools on how to share timely, practical information during different stages of drought, while the Groundwater Access Toolkit - first in NSW - will support landholders and businesses in understanding local groundwater availability in an easy-to-use online tool that combines numerous data sources.

Together, they form part of the region’s broader commitment to building long-term drought resilience and community preparedness.

The event is free to attend, and a light lunch will be provided. Tickets are required, so secure your free ticket today.