THERE have been plenty of headlines about hay and financial donations made across the country to help farmers struggling with drought, but two Victorian hairdressers are offering unique support to lift bushies' spirits.
Kathryn Brown and Elizabeth Inguanez, Bacchus Marsh, Vic, enlisted the driving services of local mechanic Shaun Teven to go on a trek they have titled “Hair’s to the Farmers”, travelling through stations in drought-affected areas, offering free haircuts and colours.
The trio also received donations of products such as dog food and beauty supplies to hand out along their journey.
“During tough times, people need to talk, so sitting down to have a hair cut or colour offers people the chance to take a break and have a chat, so it’s partly a mental health service as well,” Ms Brown said.
The trio set off on September 20, and their first stop was Murray Bank Farm, Goodnight, NSW, followed by Lelma Station, via Pooncarie, NSW.
An unfortunate breakdown of their bus at Lelma meant the hairdressers had a day free and were able to get their scissors out at the Yelta sheep sale recently.
Once the bus was up and running, the trio headed for the Tilpa Hotel, on the Darling River, north of Wilcannia, NSW, then on to Louth, NSW.
The trio were spending two weeks on the road, but were hopeful of heading off again on another separate journey.
“If it all goes well, and it has been, we’ll go again early next year, to different areas,” Ms Brown said.
On Tuesday, Ms Brown wrote on the Leland Farmers Facebook page it was an “privilege to tour this dry but beautiful country and met the most humbling uplifting and funny people”.
“It has been a real eye opener. On the news we have been made to feel the drought affected areas are far north, when in harsh reality it is just over our border and creeping down in to Victoria,” she said.
Anyone interested in having a visit from the Hairs to the Farmers team can log onto their social media accounts and make suggestions on where they should journey to next.
