Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A DECADE of drought followed by devastating floods left the regions north and west of Bendigo reeling.
For those living in small towns and localities, it was hard to see a way out of the financial and emotional dead end.
For six years, Salvation Army Outreach officer John Cartwright has travelled the region from Shepparton to St Arnaud to lend an ear to struggling farmers.
"The drought has been an ongoing issue, not just for the farmers but for the towns as well," he said.
"When the farmers aren't making money, they aren't spending money in town."
He cold calls rural houses - not to sell anything, or to rattle a tin, but to talk. While most turn down his offer of a chat, for others it can give them a little hope.
"I don't push anything on farmers, no religion or no other beliefs. If they want to talk, then I'll talk with them," Mr Cartwright said.
"I was in the same position as a lot of the farmers and I didn't want to talk about it either.
"You just have to try not to draw anything out."
The small community of Calivil is one area that has seen the benefits of the work Mr Cartwright does in the region.
He visited the area and found plenty of people to talk to.
The grain and beef farmers working the land in the area between Mitiamo and Serpentine had struggled in the last 10 years, to the point where any sense of community had dwindled.
Calivil resident Leanne Welsh said the support of Mr Cartwright had been a massive boost to the community.
"John has been a terrific support for us - he turns up for a coffee and a chat. The best trait is that he listens," she said.
"We're all afraid of being judged, John doesn't judge, he treats everyone in the same manner."
At Christmas, Mr Cartwright played a major role in a Calivil Christmas event, donating presents and helping families with food.
Ms Welsh said her 10-year-old son summed up the importance of the Salvos.
"He told me, 'If the Christmas program didn't run, it would make me really sad and ruin the Christmas spirit and take away people's happiness'," she said.
"He said, 'Some kids might not get presents and might not feel the Christmas spirit'."
There were a number of communities throughout the Bendigo region with similar stories to Calivil, where Mr Cartwright stops in for a cup of tea and a chat.
As the only Outreach worker in the region, he said the Salvation Army could provide a unique and important service.
"I just listen to them," he said.
