A drought tour across regional NSW is helping to bring some much needed relief and fun to children and their parents.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
PCYC NSW 'Fun for Kids' tour is in its second year and aims to provide youth in drought affected towns, the opportunity to enjoy themselves during school holidays and create life long memories in a fun and safe environment.
The tour includes visits to Gilgandra, Bourke, Cobar, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Coonamble, Nyngan, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin, and Forbes.
It started September 30 and will run until October 4.
There were also members of the NSW Police Youth Command on the trip, joining in the activities.
Australian Community Media spoke with PCYC NSW Activities Manager, David Gitz on the third day of the trip while in Nyngan.
"It's been really good and we're already planning for next year," he said.
"It's not going to stop now."
Activities Manager Mareta Cross-Taateo said it has been an amazing tour with the kids involved in many different things.
"It's really nice to see that they're feeling comfortable and safe with us to talk about different things," she said.
One of the things that really stood out for Ms Cross-Taateo was when a seven-year-old girl said how sad it was to having green everywhere to red dirt.
"It just shows that a lot of kids, while we think they don't understand what's happening, they feel and think so deeply about diff issues which everyone assumes is adult issues," she said.
Many of the PCYC NSW staff on the trip have come from metropolitan areas and so the drought tour has been a real eye-opener for them.
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Tractor Trek raises thousands of dollars to support charity Little Wings
Jen Balk said it's been a really rewarding experience for them, with this being many of her colleagues first time to a rural area.
"I know for us driving along as we;re getting closer to the towns we're seeing nothing but red dirt and dry patches. We're really seeing the impact of what's going on out here," she said.
She added that it has also been rewarding speaking with rural kids, who have come from a different upbringing to them.
"It's eye opening for all of us, very rewarding, and it's not something we get the chance to do very often..."
Steve Magner from the Fit for Work program had no words to describe the positivity and feeling that this tour has given.
"It gives the parents and the kids that are attending, a break from the every day stresses to escape and have fun," he said.
"We all know in these areas the build up of stress and pressure about worrying becomes too much..."
Mr Gitz thanked all of the sponsors for their generous support, including Coca Cola Amatil who produced and donated 1500 tour t-shirts and over 60 cases of water and Fleet Care donated $1000 worth of petrol.
"Without them these sort of things aren't possible," he said.