Coonamble dads donate wheat to preschool Grain Drive

Farming fathers in the New South Wales regional community of Coonamble have rallied to support Coonamble’s community-owned preschool this harvest season. 

15 farming families, so far, have declared that they will donate wheat to the Coonamble Preschool Grain Drive, which aims to contribute to a new multi-million dollar building to meet growing demand for early learning in the region.

“Local farmers on each road have offered their support to the Grain Drive by volunteering to assist me to oversee and organise the collection of grain on their road,” preschool Vice President Jessica Lovel shared with local news source Coonamble Times.

“We are extremely grateful to each dad who has generously taken on this role,” she added. 

These contributions, Preschool Director Heidi Hodgson says, are vital to demonstrating the local commitment to building a new facility, one which will meet modern standards and allow more children to attend early learning in the years before school. 

Currently there is a $2.5 million shortfall in what is needed to upgrade the facility, which were once shearer’s quarters, and which were donated to the community in the early 1970’s. 

The nine fathers of the latest generation to pass through the Coonamble Preschool who have put up their hands to make it easier to contribute are:

• Pilliga/Billeroy: Tom Cullen & Matt Prentice
• Carinda: Henry Moxham
• Dubbo/Warren Rd: Blake Hodgson
• Tooraweenah Rd: Ricky Looten
• Warren Rd: Jed Cain
• Walgett: Will Kennedy
• Mowlma Rd: Harry Altus
• Quambone Rd: Angus Dixon
• Baradine Rd: Will Moss

Other farmers are encouraged to contact any of the listed men on their road or in their phone contacts to pledge their grain. Farmers can request a pick up from their property by volunteer truck driver Paul Underwood.

The Preschool will also be accepting a transfer of donations from farmers who would prefer to use the National Growers Register. Donors can email [email protected] for more information.

Access the original coverage of this story here.