Celebrating acts of kindness
World Red Cross Day (May 8) coincides with the start of National Volunteer Week and so we’re using this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who make our society stronger.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It might be by donating blood, reaching out to an older person who lives alone or spending a day of their week helping run a Red Cross shop.
It particularly comes to light during a crisis. I’ve been overwhelmed by how willing people have been to give their time to help people whose lives were turned upside-down by Cyclone Debbie.
1700 volunteers and staff have supported communities in northern New South Wales and Queensland, including 200 from across our state.
Thankfully, it is not just during a disaster when we see the best come out in people. Every day around the country people carry out acts of kindness, creating a place where we feel supported and included. Their actions bring us closer together and make us feel more positive about our lives.
Think about when a friend or colleague, or even a stranger, has done something to help you, without expecting anything in return. It feels good, doesn’t it?
This week, as we celebrate volunteers and the worldwide Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, let’s all make the effort to help someone who needs it.
Together we can dramatically boost the power of good.
Join us at redcross.org.au.
Jody Broun
Director, Red Cross in New South Wales
Our most valuable resource
The total area of the Murray Darling Basin has four major rivers - the mighty Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and The Darling Rivers. The area is so vast, the basin produces 40 per cent of all Australian farmers who produce rice, wheat, oats, barley, cotton, fruit, vegetables, wine, sheep, wool, goats, cattle, dairy cattle and oil seeds.
Three quarters of Australian irrigation crops are produced in the Murray Darling Basin. The Basin covers 1,058,800 square kilometers.
Water is the most valuable resource in the basin, the water that flows in the Murray and Darling Rivers comes from a small per centage of the basin area, mainly along the southern and eastern rim. Almost 86 per cent of the vast catchment area produces very little or no regular run off to the rivers system.
When one travels to Hillston and across the Lachlan River, the flow of the Lachlan River comes from the Wyangala Dam which holds 88 per cent and water release on April 27 was 264 ml, it has been reported that Hillston irrigation communities have lost 70 per cent of their water entitlements.
Canberra is part of the Murray Darling Basin and the Murrumbidgee River starts at Canberra. We have the Burrinjuck at 64 per cent water release on April 27 and Blowering Dam at 64 per cent water release. The river travels through towns and at Narrandera is the gateway to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
The river continues on to Hay where the Hay communities have lost out, farmers sold their land and water and then Maude and the Murrumbidgee River flows into the Lachlan River, and the Lachlan flows into the Murray.
Albury is situated on the Victoria border, the Hume Dam stands at 59 per cent water release at April 29. It is the starting point for the Mighty Murray River and finds its way through towns and the Darling River flows into the Murray and on its way to Renmark, Morgan, and Murray Bridge.
It has been reported that Murray Darling Basin Authority have dredge the mouth of the lake on account of the sand, so that the water will flow out to sea from the mighty Murray.