Browns Butchery at Thornton is holding a Buy A Bale Hunter fundraiser

The generous gesture came on Tuesday at Browns Butchery in Thornton, and has taken the shop’s fundraising total to more than $5000. 

The staff are still smiling from ear to ear about it.

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“This is something I am so passionate about.”

The shop will host a fundraiser on Saturday, September 15, as part of it’s 90^th birthday celebrations. It’s another way it can raise money for Buy A Bale Hunter – a partnership between the Mercury, Newcastle Herald, Dungog Chronicle, Scone Advocate, Hunter Valley News and charity Rural Aid.

The business knows it wouldn’t exist without livestock farmers and is trying to raise awareness about where food comes from.

It has been fundraising for Buy A Bale Hunter online, and through a donation tin in-store, for the past few months. 

Read more: How you can help Hunter farmers

“We are trying to get people to get behind it, after all, everyone wouldn’t have their food without them,” Ms O’Brien said.

“That’s the biggest point that we are trying to push – how much work goes into producing it from paddock to plate.”

The family-friendly party at the store will start at 10am and finish at 3pm. 

 Each $2 raffle ticket, and sausage sizzle, will be donated to the campaign.

The funds will be used to buy hay and water. 

There’s a long list of raffle prizes including one night’s accommodation at the Anchorage Nelson Bay from CSBM Real Estate, and a craft hamper valued at over $110 from Homewares Plus. 

A jumping castle,and Thornton Public School performance will be among the entertainment.

Ms O’Brien, the 2017 Maitland Showgirl, said many shoppers had no idea that the Hunter was in drought and Upper Hunter farmers were battling the worst conditions in living memory.

She posted a video of farm paddocks at Scone, after a recent trip to the town, to help raise awareness. 

“I got out of the car and could not believe that it is just pure dirt, we still have grass at home so it was a big shock to see it like that,” she said.

“I took a video and posted it on the business page to show our customers that this is where our food comes from – how can our farmers make that food when there’s nothing here?.”