We've been asked to show our support for Australian farmers by wearing a flannel shirt between now and the twenty third of August. Any day, every day, even every ten days, a farmer dies by suicide and that is a rate fifty nine percent higher than that of non farmers. Farm Angels Chief executive Jason Law on the line, Jason, good morning, what a great idea.

We've been asked to show our support for Australian farmers by wearing a flannel shirt between now and the twenty third of August. Any day, every day, even every ten days, a farmer dies by suicide and that is a rate fifty nine percent higher than that of non farmers. Farm Angels Chief executive Jason Law on the line, Jason, good morning, what a great idea.

Thank you, Matthew, thanks for having us on the show. And yeah, the idea was started by one of our farmers.

Thank you, Matthew, thanks for having us on the show. And yeah, the idea was started by one of our farmers.

In fact, is this the first time you've done this. I haven't heard of farm Angels before or flannel day. What a wonderful thing.

In fact, is this the first time you've done this. I haven't heard of farm Angels before or flannel day. What a wonderful thing.

Yeah, thank you. Well, it's our second year and farm Angels is our new name, formerly Drought Angels I started ten years ago. In January was our tenth anniversary and we changed the name to farm Angels because we do so much more than just strout. We assist farmers through fires, through flood's, mass plagues, et cetera, general hardships relating to disasters. Because many people don't realize that for any single event, it's three to five years recovery for a farmer. So imagine you know, five or ten years of drought and three to five years per year. That's a long recovery period, let alone a big fire or a flood.

Yeah, thank you. Well, it's our second year and farm Angels is our new name, formerly Drought Angels I started ten years ago. In January was our tenth anniversary and we changed the name to farm Angels because we do so much more than just strout. We assist farmers through fires, through flood's, mass plagues, et cetera, general hardships relating to disasters. Because many people don't realize that for any single event, it's three to five years recovery for a farmer. So imagine you know, five or ten years of drought and three to five years per year. That's a long recovery period, let alone a big fire or a flood.

Are they these disasters whatever, whether it's a plague or a fire, flood, whatever it might be, is that the reason or one of the factors that drives up that suicide rate.

Are they these disasters whatever, whether it's a plague or a fire, flood, whatever it might be, is that the reason or one of the factors that drives up that suicide rate.

Look, it's a number of factors. And farmers are pretty resilient, Budge, right, They go through a lot, and I think the feedback that we get is that I guess they go through these hardships and quite often that it's the last thing and they'll say, well they you know, people say, well drought, you know, they know that drought's coming or flod's coming. Surely they've got a plan for this, and they do. So when a farmer says, you know, I had two years worth of feed there and I just couldn't store anymore it would go off, or I just simply couldn't afford the massive space that I'd need. Enough was enough. Or we quite often find instances where they battle through things and then there's a disaster and they come through that, but then you know, the husband or wife will get answer or have an accident where they're immobilized or so on, and it's just that next bit that is the tipping point.

Look, it's a number of factors. And farmers are pretty resilient, Budge, right, They go through a lot, and I think the feedback that we get is that I guess they go through these hardships and quite often that it's the last thing and they'll say, well they you know, people say, well drought, you know, they know that drought's coming or flod's coming. Surely they've got a plan for this, and they do. So when a farmer says, you know, I had two years worth of feed there and I just couldn't store anymore it would go off, or I just simply couldn't afford the massive space that I'd need. Enough was enough. Or we quite often find instances where they battle through things and then there's a disaster and they come through that, but then you know, the husband or wife will get answer or have an accident where they're immobilized or so on, and it's just that next bit that is the tipping point.

Yeah. Absolutely, So it is a tough life, isn't it. I mean, you're right about resilience. We've heard so many stories over years about what farmers go through and they're still out there doing the job. But gee, thats suicide, right, that is clearly, very very concerning. A rate that high, fifty nine percent higher than non farmers is well, it's upsetting to read that, frankly.

Yeah. Absolutely, So it is a tough life, isn't it. I mean, you're right about resilience. We've heard so many stories over years about what farmers go through and they're still out there doing the job. But gee, thats suicide, right, that is clearly, very very concerning. A rate that high, fifty nine percent higher than non farmers is well, it's upsetting to read that, frankly.

It is. And I was reading another study performed out of the University of South Australia actually, and they did a more in depth survey of a smaller number and it was up to nine five percent. So you know, when you look at the statistics, that's staggering. That's just what we know. And that's those who complete suicide, let alone those who consider self from on a regular basis, because it's the it's the isolation, it's the feeling that they do all this work and potentially it's for nothing I've done on this work. We all like want a sense of purpose. Everyone likes to have a sense of completion. And imagine if you're you know you've got stock or you're growing crops of whatever sort, and an event happens and it's all gone, and you go, great, well that's taken me out for this season and then potentially the next season because I can't plant now, I can't do this, And so when they look at ahead, it's just that extra weight on their shoulders. So we help fill the gap. And I want to give thanks to all those of people who've supported us over the last ten years, because it really makes a difference when we can pick up the phone and someone said, you know, like just just to me last week, they said, just being there to listen, just to know that someone understands what you're going through and I can talk without any judgment, and that's the most important thing. And on top of that, we help bridge that little financial gap as well, where were sometimes if there's there's no ability to get compensation or or they fall between the cracks in terms of any government assistance. We help fill those.

It is. And I was reading another study performed out of the University of South Australia actually, and they did a more in depth survey of a smaller number and it was up to nine five percent. So you know, when you look at the statistics, that's staggering. That's just what we know. And that's those who complete suicide, let alone those who consider self from on a regular basis, because it's the it's the isolation, it's the feeling that they do all this work and potentially it's for nothing I've done on this work. We all like want a sense of purpose. Everyone likes to have a sense of completion. And imagine if you're you know you've got stock or you're growing crops of whatever sort, and an event happens and it's all gone, and you go, great, well that's taken me out for this season and then potentially the next season because I can't plant now, I can't do this, And so when they look at ahead, it's just that extra weight on their shoulders. So we help fill the gap. And I want to give thanks to all those of people who've supported us over the last ten years, because it really makes a difference when we can pick up the phone and someone said, you know, like just just to me last week, they said, just being there to listen, just to know that someone understands what you're going through and I can talk without any judgment, and that's the most important thing. And on top of that, we help bridge that little financial gap as well, where were sometimes if there's there's no ability to get compensation or or they fall between the cracks in terms of any government assistance. We help fill those.

And I suppose farming too, not just on the land. We'd be talking people fishing, for instance, Is that treated as farming.

And I suppose farming too, not just on the land. We'd be talking people fishing, for instance, Is that treated as farming.

Yeah, anyone who's a primary producer, So yet oysterleases the abalone beekeepers. So those who are primary producers, that bee farmer. The beekeepers went through a major issue with the Varroa mites and bees of course are a major, by a major part in the health of our agriculture. But without bees we don't get pollination. That pollination, we don't get the fruits and wows, etc. So there was a massive issue with the poor beekeeper who went through this episode, and a lot of them had their hids destroyed, and that's just having their income instantly turned off down done. So that's that's where thankfully we're able to step in and again thanks to everyone who supported us to be able to do.

Yeah, anyone who's a primary producer, So yet oysterleases the abalone beekeepers. So those who are primary producers, that bee farmer. The beekeepers went through a major issue with the Varroa mites and bees of course are a major, by a major part in the health of our agriculture. But without bees we don't get pollination. That pollination, we don't get the fruits and wows, etc. So there was a massive issue with the poor beekeeper who went through this episode, and a lot of them had their hids destroyed, and that's just having their income instantly turned off down done. So that's that's where thankfully we're able to step in and again thanks to everyone who supported us to be able to do.

That for them, and now chickens of course, those farmers going through this as well.

That for them, and now chickens of course, those farmers going through this as well.

Exactly, And it's just it's these things one after the other, and I think it's important that we get that awareness because you know, without farmers, we'd be hungry, naked and thirsty. So they feed us, they close us. We take a lot of that for granted, and I think that's the most important part of this is that we could show farmers, but we recognize the impact they have on our lives from a day to day perspective.

Exactly, And it's just it's these things one after the other, and I think it's important that we get that awareness because you know, without farmers, we'd be hungry, naked and thirsty. So they feed us, they close us. We take a lot of that for granted, and I think that's the most important part of this is that we could show farmers, but we recognize the impact they have on our lives from a day to day perspective.

Is there any where people can get shirts from do you have a recommended supply. Perhaps some of the proceeds come straight back.

Is there any where people can get shirts from do you have a recommended supply. Perhaps some of the proceeds come straight back.

Yes, the Ringers Western is our official partner for this. Five dollars for every flannel and you can donate from their site. And we also have our own flannel, but a limited edition one on our website which is farm Angels dot org dot au and also flanne for a farmer dot com dot au. So those two different sites there as well. So you can buy one of our trademarks limited edition flannels or Ringers Western any of their plannos.

Yes, the Ringers Western is our official partner for this. Five dollars for every flannel and you can donate from their site. And we also have our own flannel, but a limited edition one on our website which is farm Angels dot org dot au and also flanne for a farmer dot com dot au. So those two different sites there as well. So you can buy one of our trademarks limited edition flannels or Ringers Western any of their plannos.

So the day dollars how much?

So the day dollars how much?

Sorry, they'll donate five dollars.

Sorry, they'll donate five dollars.

Five dollars, Yeah, yeah, Jason. The day itself twenty third of August. What makes that significant? Why is that day Flanno day?

Five dollars, Yeah, yeah, Jason. The day itself twenty third of August. What makes that significant? Why is that day Flanno day?

Well, it just happened to be a day that we picked in August of twinter it so it's the middle of winter. It lined up with sometimes some of the harshest conditions around Australia and in conjunction with our farmers who came up with a concept, they said, that's a that's a great day, great time and getting people to wear a flano and our goal is to get a million Aussies like you were saying in the lead up to this that you can wear one any day or every day in the lead up and make it fun. Set up to go to our site, the Flanno for a farmer's site and set up a team, do morning teas, do a jelly bean counting competition or whatever it is, and to show farmers that you care. Wear your Flanno posted on the socials and every dollar goes towards helping a farmer, helping a shoulder lean on and someone to listen.

Well, it just happened to be a day that we picked in August of twinter it so it's the middle of winter. It lined up with sometimes some of the harshest conditions around Australia and in conjunction with our farmers who came up with a concept, they said, that's a that's a great day, great time and getting people to wear a flano and our goal is to get a million Aussies like you were saying in the lead up to this that you can wear one any day or every day in the lead up and make it fun. Set up to go to our site, the Flanno for a farmer's site and set up a team, do morning teas, do a jelly bean counting competition or whatever it is, and to show farmers that you care. Wear your Flanno posted on the socials and every dollar goes towards helping a farmer, helping a shoulder lean on and someone to listen.

It's a great initiative. Jason, Well done, and maybe we'll speak on the day itself and see how it's all gone. Thank you for your time this morning.

It's a great initiative. Jason, Well done, and maybe we'll speak on the day itself and see how it's all gone. Thank you for your time this morning.

It'd be fantastic. Thank you very much Matthew for your support.

It'd be fantastic. Thank you very much Matthew for your support.

Thank you Jason law CEO Farm Angels. What a great thing. Flanno for a farmer twenty third of August. Anytime between now and then, wear a Flanno and help out a farmer. Just the solidarity of that, I think that's a great initiative.

Thank you Jason law CEO Farm Angels. What a great thing. Flanno for a farmer twenty third of August. Anytime between now and then, wear a Flanno and help out a farmer. Just the solidarity of that, I think that's a great initiative.