Community & Business
23 March, 2022
Rural action members recognised
A GROUP of passionate local farmers who fought tooth and nail for the rights of farmers across Australia have been presented with Good Australian Awards, courtesy of Kennedy MP Bob Katter.
Johnny Gambino, Bernie O’Shea, Makse Srhoj and Vince Mete were all members of the former Mareeba Rural Action Council and were instrumental is getting the Farm Household Allowance Bill 2014 passed.
The bill provides income support for farmers in hardship without the need for a climatic trigger and was a big issue to tackle for the local group.
The four members were presented with their Good Australian Awards last Monday in a ceremony by Mr Katter and Member for Hill Shane Knuth.
“Apart from a few people in Mildura, Rural Action were the only group who really stood up tenaciously and fought like tigers against deregulation,” Mr Katter said
Mr Katter said the Mareeba Rural Action Council, along with Rowell Walton, were nearly totally responsible for the Rural Debt Summit in Canberra that led to the Farm Household Allowance legislation.
“One of their main negotiating points or demands, was sustenance payments for farmers whose family income did not reach a welfare payment,” he said.
“Nearly 20 per cent of Australian farmers have received those payments. When the bank stops your credit, you can’t pay wages, or buy fuel – probably half of those farmers would have gone under if it wasn’t for those payments.
“Very few Australians can say that they made a difference with their lives. God Bless the Mareeba Rural Action Council. They’ve been an inspiration to me.”
Johnny Gambino, Bernie O’Shea, Makse Srhoj, Ned Brischetto, Vince Mete, John Myrteza, Egidio (Eddie) Bernabei (dec), Evan McGrath, Joe Moro, Emedio Nicolosi (dec), Scott Dixon and Peter Henderson. were all acknowledged for their contribution to the group, and commitment in the fight for farmers.
