There are many ongoing demands and stressors on Victorian farmers, and over the past several years these have been exacerbated by the bushfires earlier this year, recent droughts, floods, COVID-19 and the Black Saturday fires. But Corryong Baptist Church (CBC) is bringing a helping hand and a sympathetic ear in these times of need through rural chaplaincy.
The Farm Mate programme provides chaplaincy services to farmers in Victoria’s north-east, via trained staff who are sent out from a local church to regularly visit farmers and keep in contact via calls and events. “Through the Farm Mate program, a continued witness of care, communication and concern will reveal the heart of God,” said CBC Pastor Graeme van Brummelen. “The program fosters connectedness, resilience, and spiritual renewal, encouraging farmers to reconnect with family, community, and faith. Ultimately, Farm Mate is an intentional evangelistic mission, offering hope and healing through relationship-building and holistic care.”
Farm Mate is made possible through a BUV and Baptcare mission grant with funds being channeled towards a chaplain, who not only oversees community gatherings and mental-health awareness events, but also connects farmers with health services where required.
While the two-day-per-week position started in October, Graeme said the idea developed six years ago after a seven-day fire devastated the Upper Murray region. “What we have noticed over the past six years is that the best ‘medicine’ is having one-on-one conversations with the farmers who were doing it tough. Initially, Corryong Baptist Church took the lead to provide immediate aid through food vouchers and provided a grant for seed so that the farmers could sow their paddocks and recover the pastures that were lost. But as they quickly realised, the real need was for connection and care to support fairly vulnerable farmers. The stress of the past few years has taken a toll, causing a mental health crisis with many farmers experiencing PTSD, isolation, psychological distress, burnout and feelings of hopelessness. So, as further donations flooded in from Victorian Baptists, the BUV directed the funds to the employment of bushfire pastoral carers who were funded to visit those affected communities, offer care and support, helping to reconnect people and build resilience.
Graeme believes Farm Mate is a wonderful opportunity that could be expanded. “We realise that the longer we can employ someone in this ministry to the rural community, the more beneficial that will be to our farmers who have only just got going again since 2019/20, not to mention the drought conditions experienced over the past 18 months.” “Our endeavour is to reach as many farmers as possible to let them know that we care.” CBC is connecting with the local Rotary Club and Towong Shire Council, hoping to add extra days to the Baptcare and BUV funded chaplaincy.