He might be a reluctant hero but Need for Feed founder Graham Cockerell takes pride in the $30 million hay bail-out for struggling Aussie farmers. Tony Fawcett reports.
Graham Cockerell knows well the heartbreak that can affect Australian farming families.
As an 11-year-old, PDG Graham, founder of Lions-based Need for Feed which in 15 years has delivered $30 million worth of hay to ailing farmers, suffered the loss of his father to farm-related suicide.
The memory and sadness of that event, which forced the selling of the family farm, has never left him.
Looking back on Need for Feed’s phenomenal record in helping drought, fire and flood affected farmers, Graham confirms his father’s death was a catalyst in the project’s 2006 founding.
It was around the 40th anniversary of his father’s death that Graham got involved. “It was the middle of the Millennium Drought and in Victoria, “ he recalls, “we had drought and fires at the same time and there were media reports that three farmers per week were taking their own lives. That all came home to me and I was in a position to be able to help somebody, which I did.”
First off, he delivered a load of his own hay to bushfire-ravaged Cowwarr in Victoria’s Gippsland. “That was going to be all there was to it, but it’s the old story … when I saw the enormity of the problem I felt I had to do something,” he says. “So we rounded up those we thought could help and the starting point was my own (Pakenham) Lions Club.
Before Need for Feed’s launch, Graham was unable to even talk about his father’s suicide. “I just wasn’t able to have a conversation about it,” he admits.
He first publicly revealed details when interviewed on Need for Feed by former Melbourne ABC radio presenter Jon Faine. “I had to go home and tell my grown-up daughters about how my father, their grandfather, died – I hadn’t discussed it with anybody before. But now I’m able to talk to others about it, and we feel that what we are doing is really making a difference.”
Like so many of today’s ailing farmers, Graham says his dad’s suicide was not due to him being a bad farmer. Through no fault of his own he was simply faced with hurdles he felt he could not overcome.
“There are a lot of good farmers out there, and I suppose some bad ones too,” says Graham. “But even the good ones get caught up in events that go for way longer than expected, whether a one-in-100-year drought or the latest floods on the NSW mid-north coast.”
ON THE ROAD: In 15 years Need for Feed convoys have delivered approximately $30 million worth of hay to ailing farmers.
Although reluctantly in the Need for Feed spotlight and ever anxious to deflect praise to his colleagues, Graham takes pride in the project having donated about 5,000 truck loads of hay or 180,000-200,000 bales, the equivalent of about $30 million, in 15 years.
Often a delivery has meant the difference between a farmer walking off the land and not.
Need for Feed has few problems finding volunteers. “It is getting bigger but it’s getting easier to manage in that we’ve got more people helping,” says Graham.
“Once most people try it they enjoy it and they’re hooked and keep coming back to help.”
Two-thirds of volunteers are Victorians, yet now many are based on the NSW mid-north and central coasts with hay runs in nearly all states. Just over half the volunteers are female.
In March the operation had grown so much a specialist Lions club was formed to relieve the Pakenham club. Regular volunteers were approached to become founding members of the Lions Club of Victoria Need for Feed, and of the 30 approached 29 happily joined.
Today Need for Feed is the only fulltime rural aid group among the big five Australian farm charities run totally by volunteers.
News of its efforts has spread wide, with donations from as far away as the US and UK, with 8,000 UK pounds recently donated by young Isle of Mann farmers, to be split between Need for Feed and St Vincent de Paul for bushfire relief.
Now a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, it provides corporates with a tax deduction when they donate.
Recent activities have been concentrated on NSW flood areas, with a run on average every month.
The project’s biggest run to date involved 90 trucks from Dubbo to as far as the Hunter Valley and the centre-west.
Along with hay, Need for Feed donates care packs and food hampers, including food for our canine mates (every farm has at least one dog!)
At 66, Graham, who runs a garage and spray-painting business with his partner and Need for Feed secretary Claire Johnston, acknowledges he has “probably spent too much time helping others and not enough building up a bank account” – but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Retirement, he says, will have to wait.
To volunteer/donate to Need for Feed, visit www.needforfeed.org
Story by Tony Fawcett.
Feature Image – FARMERS’ SAVIOUR: Need for Feed founder Graham Cockerell … his farmer father’s suicide was a catalyst in a Lions life devoted to others. Picture courtesy Andy Rogers & The Weekly Times
Lion Hero – Paul McInnes
/in Lion Hero /by Rob OerlermansPaul McInnes is a tireless worker across a range of local and international community and charitable projects. He is proud to have chartered the Blacktown Ponds Lions Club Inc. and was the Charter President. The Club would not be where it is today without his knowledge, tenacity, support, intelligence and hard work.
Lion Hero – Peter Garnham
/in Lion Hero /by Rob OerlermansLion Peter Garnham has been a member of the Lions Club of East Maitland for 26 years and is a founding member of the Maitland Men’s Shed and a former Deputy Mayor of Maitland City Council.
Passionate about service, and dedicated to the community, Peter lends a hand to many diverse community groups and causes, as well as Lions.
Thank you to our Lions Hero.
Heartbreak behind Lions mission of mercy
/in EMERGENCY RESPONSE, HUMANITARIAN, OUR STORIES /by Elise MurrellHe might be a reluctant hero but Need for Feed founder Graham Cockerell takes pride in the $30 million hay bail-out for struggling Aussie farmers. Tony Fawcett reports.
Graham Cockerell knows well the heartbreak that can affect Australian farming families.
As an 11-year-old, PDG Graham, founder of Lions-based Need for Feed which in 15 years has delivered $30 million worth of hay to ailing farmers, suffered the loss of his father to farm-related suicide.
The memory and sadness of that event, which forced the selling of the family farm, has never left him.
Looking back on Need for Feed’s phenomenal record in helping drought, fire and flood affected farmers, Graham confirms his father’s death was a catalyst in the project’s 2006 founding.
It was around the 40th anniversary of his father’s death that Graham got involved. “It was the middle of the Millennium Drought and in Victoria, “ he recalls, “we had drought and fires at the same time and there were media reports that three farmers per week were taking their own lives. That all came home to me and I was in a position to be able to help somebody, which I did.”
First off, he delivered a load of his own hay to bushfire-ravaged Cowwarr in Victoria’s Gippsland. “That was going to be all there was to it, but it’s the old story … when I saw the enormity of the problem I felt I had to do something,” he says. “So we rounded up those we thought could help and the starting point was my own (Pakenham) Lions Club.
Before Need for Feed’s launch, Graham was unable to even talk about his father’s suicide. “I just wasn’t able to have a conversation about it,” he admits.
He first publicly revealed details when interviewed on Need for Feed by former Melbourne ABC radio presenter Jon Faine. “I had to go home and tell my grown-up daughters about how my father, their grandfather, died – I hadn’t discussed it with anybody before. But now I’m able to talk to others about it, and we feel that what we are doing is really making a difference.”
Like so many of today’s ailing farmers, Graham says his dad’s suicide was not due to him being a bad farmer. Through no fault of his own he was simply faced with hurdles he felt he could not overcome.
“There are a lot of good farmers out there, and I suppose some bad ones too,” says Graham. “But even the good ones get caught up in events that go for way longer than expected, whether a one-in-100-year drought or the latest floods on the NSW mid-north coast.”
ON THE ROAD: In 15 years Need for Feed convoys have delivered approximately $30 million worth of hay to ailing farmers.
Although reluctantly in the Need for Feed spotlight and ever anxious to deflect praise to his colleagues, Graham takes pride in the project having donated about 5,000 truck loads of hay or 180,000-200,000 bales, the equivalent of about $30 million, in 15 years.
Often a delivery has meant the difference between a farmer walking off the land and not.
Need for Feed has few problems finding volunteers. “It is getting bigger but it’s getting easier to manage in that we’ve got more people helping,” says Graham.
“Once most people try it they enjoy it and they’re hooked and keep coming back to help.”
Two-thirds of volunteers are Victorians, yet now many are based on the NSW mid-north and central coasts with hay runs in nearly all states. Just over half the volunteers are female.
In March the operation had grown so much a specialist Lions club was formed to relieve the Pakenham club. Regular volunteers were approached to become founding members of the Lions Club of Victoria Need for Feed, and of the 30 approached 29 happily joined.
Today Need for Feed is the only fulltime rural aid group among the big five Australian farm charities run totally by volunteers.
News of its efforts has spread wide, with donations from as far away as the US and UK, with 8,000 UK pounds recently donated by young Isle of Mann farmers, to be split between Need for Feed and St Vincent de Paul for bushfire relief.
Now a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, it provides corporates with a tax deduction when they donate.
Recent activities have been concentrated on NSW flood areas, with a run on average every month.
The project’s biggest run to date involved 90 trucks from Dubbo to as far as the Hunter Valley and the centre-west.
Along with hay, Need for Feed donates care packs and food hampers, including food for our canine mates (every farm has at least one dog!)
At 66, Graham, who runs a garage and spray-painting business with his partner and Need for Feed secretary Claire Johnston, acknowledges he has “probably spent too much time helping others and not enough building up a bank account” – but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Retirement, he says, will have to wait.
To volunteer/donate to Need for Feed, visit www.needforfeed.org
Story by Tony Fawcett.
Feature Image – FARMERS’ SAVIOUR: Need for Feed founder Graham Cockerell … his farmer father’s suicide was a catalyst in a Lions life devoted to others. Picture courtesy Andy Rogers & The Weekly Times
Lions continue to go above and beyond to help the community through COVID-19
/in HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by Rob OerlermansWhilst the spread of the highly contagious Delta strain of COVID has changed how community service groups meet and fundraise, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed and that’s the determination of Australia’s volunteers to make a difference.
CEO of Lions Australia, Rob Oerlemans says he is delighted to see how volunteers across the country are continuing to support their communities through COVID-19.
“At Lions we pride ourselves on the work we do to help others and make our communities better places to live. Right now, our service is needed more than ever.”
“From raffles, sausage sizzles and trivia nights, to environmental work and supporting the deaf, blind and vulnerable, our volunteers are traditionally very hands on and involved in their communities. It’s been wonderful to see so many of our clubs adapting to support each other and their communities through the health pandemic. This continues today, even through the lockdowns and restrictions resulting from the spread of the highly contagious Delta strain of COVID.”
“Lions volunteers across the country have been reaching out to those less vulnerable in their community and offering to purchase and deliver essential goods. We have been seeing many clubs supporting local health care workers through cooking and delivering food hampers to hospitals and vaccination hubs. Some clubs in Western Australia have also been brightening the lives of children in hotel quarantine through delivering care packs with toys and books to keep them entertained.”
“Our Lions volunteers here in Australia have also been doing what they can to support those in need overseas. The Sydney Sri Lankan Lions Club have been doing some incredible work. To date the club has donated over 20 Airvo2 Highflow Oxygen Machines to hospitals in Sri Lanka to help with the country’s fight against COVID.”
Lions encourages anyone interested in getting involved to consider joining their local Lions Club.
“It’s a very rewarding experience to give back to the community and help others in need. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new people. Some Lions clubs for example may not be in a position to offer assistance to the community right now but they are determined to keep in touch to support one another. This is one of the many benefits of being a volunteer in a service organisation like ours – you meet other likeminded people in your community and across the global Lions network who often become your closest friends,” says Rob Oerlemans.
COVID EMERGENCY – Indonesia & Sri Lanka! How you can help through LCIF.
/in HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by adminHELP our Lions in Indonesia during the pandemic
Although we are all challenged during this pandemic, we are aware of the very dire straits being faced by our colleagues in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In Indonesia today there were almost 40,000 new cases with over half a million active cases. Our Lions Clubs in Indonesia and Sri Lanka are doing the best they can to support their communities but they need our help.
Lions Clubs International Foundation has made available a special process to enable clubs to dedicate donations to assist Indonesia and Sri Lanka during this emergency, in the same way that Disaster Grants operate. In order to ensure that your donation goes to assist Lions in these countries, please follow this special process.
1. Make your donation to LCIF through your Cabinet Treasurer. (Donations to the Lions Australia Fund for LCIF do not apply)
2. Advise your Cabinet Treasurer AND your District LCIF Coordinator that the donation is specifically to assist Indonesia or Sri Lanka during the COVID crisis.
These specific donations will be eligible for Campaign 100, Melvin Jones Fellowship and Lions Share recognition. Don’t forget that a donation of US$1,000 can also be used to acknowledge one of your own members through the LCIF 201 Heroes for LCIF campaign.
LCIF will reserve the funds for Lions in these countries who can apply for matching grants to purchase medical equipment, personal protective equipment and other support.
That’s all you need to do and if you need guidance, your District LCIF Coordinator is always happy to help you. You will find them on page 14 of your Lions directory!
Brisbane teenager recognised on global stage as winner of Lions Clubs International Peace Essay Contest
/in NEWS, PEACE CONTEST, YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES /by adminThe theme of the 2019-20 Peace Essay contest was “Peace Through Service” and Year 8 Brisbane student, Joshua Wood has taken home the grand prize. The announcement was made as part of Lions Day with the United Nations.
The Brisbane Camp Hill Carindale Lions Club sponsored the local contest that gave Joshua the opportunity to participate in this global event and share his words of peace with the world.
Does your Club have a Superhero worth acknowledging?
/in NEWS /by adminDoes your club have a Superhero or two working with you? Someone who deserves a little more recognition? Don’t forget you can nominate them for the 201 Heroes for LCIF campaign.
As part of the Campaign 100 program, Lions Australia is looking for 201 Heroes within Australia and Papua New Guinea. Lions nominated by clubs will be recognised by:
Nominate a hero now!
Take a look at our LCIF Heroes so far…
Hero Lion – Jan Foreman
/in Lion Hero /by adminLion Jan Foreman is a member of the Lions Club of the Young in NSW. Jan’s colleagues in the Young Lions Club think that Jan is the quintessential allrounder!
Yarrawonga Lions sew over 40,000 turbans for cancer patients
/in HEALTH, NEWS, OUR STORIES /by adminThe Yarrawonga Lions Club in Victoria meet every Tuesday to sew, pack and dispatch turbans for cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.
Since the Club began the project in 2015, they have made over 40,000 turbans which have been distributed to oncology units all over Australia, and some overseas.
The project was founded by Club member, Debbie Van Corler, a cancer survivor herself. The club affectionately refers to Debbie as the ‘Turban Mum’.
Club President Joan Tufvesson says “The group is dedicated and set a very high standard as the recipients, who are going through a dark stage of their lives, deserve the best. Although their task has a serious element to it, this is not reflected in the ambiance of the room on Tuesdays, where there is lots of laughter and witty banter that makes the day a joy for all that attend.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Turban Angels have utilised their sewing skills to make face masks as another fundraising means for the turban project.
Find out more about the Made With Love Free Chemotherapy Turbans.
Life after Leos
/in OUR STORIES /by adminAs a year year 12 student, Townsville’s Hannah Bellwood took off the 2007-08 Leo of the Year title. Thirteen years later Hannah MD, now Brisbane-based, married and soon to become a fully fledged anaesthetist, recalls her win and recounts how it helped change her life.
What do recall of your 2007-2008 win?
I’m one of those people with quite a good memory for these things. My topic was Opportunity Knocks and it was about seizing opportunities, and there were so many of those that came in my time with Leos and Lions. In Leos, I had so many opportunities to do cool and exciting things, contribute to people. It was at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. I can’t remember how many hundred people I spoke in front of but I was in grade 12 at the time and it was a really big deal, presenting to so many distinguished people. Lions come from all different walks of life so it was an overwhelming feeling. And I was lucky to win. I was nervous but I had been doing a lot of speech and drama in my schooling up until that point, and there was also that little bit of excitement. I do like being on the stage and putting on a bit of a performance in some ways, but regardless of the outcome I was just so excited to be in Sydney. I was in high school at the time so the idea of going on a trip by myself with my friends … it was going to be great regardless.
Did your win change your life in any way?
It was life-changing in a way I can’t even describe. Even just being involved in Leos was life-changing. What I really learnt and loved was the capacity to communicate with people from all walks of life, meeting people and learning what their common goals are. Helping people basically underpins Lions. And I then went on to a career in medicine, so the things I learnt through Leos and Lions basically have extrapolated to my career.
So did medicine run in your family?
There were no doctors in my family. It was a combination of things like Leos and Lions and my schooling, and I quite enjoyed science. Leos and Lions made me realise I wanted a career that involved helping people and learning what people experience in their lives. You can’t underestimate what difference you make through altruism, doing something for your fellow man. My way of combining that and science was to do something in healthcare. I decided to aim high with medicine. It all just worked out and I loved it and I got the marks and I managed to get through.
You have gained many honours, from graduating from medicine/surgery with an Academic Medal and as Class Valedictorian to being named the Australian Medical Association Queensland’s junior medical officer and medical student of the year. What do you consider your greatest achievement over those 13 years?
It’s going to sound very cheesy but I think my greatest achievement if anything is marrying my husband, who used to be a Leo as well. All the career stuff aside, unless you’re got someone to share your life with, where it’s all fun, none of that other stuff matters much. There’s a lot of study in medicine and lots of exams. I just finished my final exam last year, and it’s a bit of an existential moment. After 13 years on the hamster wheel of specialty training you realise you never have to do another exam if you don’t have to. So that was pretty special.
What made you turn to anaesthetics?
I enjoyed it as a medical student and my part-time job through medical school was working in a pharmacy. Again, I liked being around people and I quite enjoyed pharmacology and medications … and also stickers – yes, I’m one of those Office Works sort of people. Anaesthetics is kind of an unknown specialty to a lot of the general public. (As anaesthetists) we really have finessed procedural skills, we’re experts in resuscitation. We’re very much in control of everyone’s physiology when they’re asleep and we have to keep them very safe. It’s a vulnerable time for patients and I really like being put in a position of trust and compassion, that you are there to take care of their life right there in that moment. People forget that the surgery couldn’t happen without us.
What will you do when you’re fully qualified?
That’s a good question. Once I’ve finished my training it’s just about finding, not my forever job, but just a fulltime specialist appointment. My intention is to stay in Brisbane because Peter (Hodgson), my husband, has become a partner of his company down here. He’s a partner of a financial and accounting firm and is a financial planner himself.
I know you were both members of Twin Cities Leo Club in Townsville, but had you and Peter known one another for long before marrying?
Yeah, we met in 2010, the year he joined Leos. Everyone just thought he joined the club because he liked me but he ended up doing our most successful club project ever. And then we got married in 2016, six years later. And that was four years ago.
Was that project Sail4Palsy?
Yeah. At that time our club had about 20 members and Peter’s sister has got cerebral palsy, so it was a project close to his heart. It was just phenomenal that such a group of young people could manage to rally all Townsville’s community to make exceptional donations, put together this project. Peter sailed his little catamaran, which is only about 14-foot long, from Townsville to Cairns in peak summer cyclone season. It managed to raise $15,000, quite a lot for a bunch of uni students. To this day we very much put that achievement up on the shelf. Like we can’t believe we did that. We’ll never top it.
What do you think about young people becoming involved in quests like Leo of the Year? Good for them?
Absolutely, and without a doubt I’d highly recommend joining Leos. It changed my life in that it’s one of those unique opportunities you get to actually do some sort of community service. It’s not just the fundraising. It puts young people in a position of meeting others they wouldn’t usually, and learning how to communicate and work in teams. I had some amazing opportunities to travel as a result of it. Like public speaking, learning your own skills and having the opportunity to build on those sort of things. I hope Leos continues its success for years to come.
Older Lions often say ‘we’re not attracting enough young people. We don’t know how to attract them, they’re not interested’. Any suggestions from your experience? Things that could be done better?
It’s a busy, busy world and I think in some ways people put off joining Lions and Leos because they don’t have the time for them. Any strategies that make things as time-efficient as possible, or that allow people to contribute in any other ways they can, will make it easier. One of the silver linings to come out of Covid is the increased use of technology. If Lions meetings have the capacity to be run with technologies like Zoom, that will probably allow more people, especially those with work and family commitments, to be involved.
At the same time, whilst it’s hard to always attract younger members, the success of Lions has been built a lot on people at a certain time in their lives and their careers. Don’t stress. I think young people will get to that point in their lives too, where Lions is going to offer them what they want. It’s something that applies to me. I feel I have come full circle and Lions is something that I will come back to, definitely.
Story originally by Tony Fawcett.