Whilst they don’t have the power to make it rain, Triple M’s Big Breakfast with Marto, Robin, Nick Cody and sports all-rounder (and former western Queensland local) Ben ‘Dobbo’ Dobbin, are on an epic radio road trip out west to Lend a Hand for the Land for Rural Aid.
The team are broadcasting from Charleville, St George and Roma, sharing the locals’ stories on-air, raising much-needed funds and giving people some well-deserved laughs when Nick Cody puts on a free comedy show for the community each night.
Road trip schedule
Monday: The hosts spoke with Kylee from Gidgees Bush Camp about her farm stay, café, mental health and drought in the community, to Charleville Mayor Annie Liston and to other locals before Nick Cody and Mel Buttle put on a cracking comedy night at the Charleville RSL.
Tuesday: The team broadcast live from the Charleville RSL and travelled to St George, chatting to St George Mayor Richard Marsh before Nick and Mel performed again at The Australian Hotel.
Wednesday: The Triple M breakfast show broadcast from The Australian Hotel in St George, visited a property near Roma, chatted to the owner of Royal on 99 at Roma (the pub) and Nick and Mel will perform at the pub as well.
Thursday: Breakfast will broadcast live from Royal on 99 in Roma, Dobbo will head to the Roma Cattle Yards for Prime sales and the crew all head home, coverage in dust and full of stories.
Marto said: “For those of us who live in Brisbane it’s sometimes easy to forget the devastating impact the sustained drought is having on our rural and regional towns. For those drought-declared communities (who represent 65% of the state), the lack of rain over several years has resulted in failed crops, poor pasture growth and significant concerns about stock, irrigation and rural domestic water supplies. Not to mention the impact it has had on the mental health of those people trying to survive the harsh and stressful conditions. That’s why this radio road trip is important. It’s important we head out west, to the homes of our fellow Queenslanders and share their stories with their city friends, because we are all in this together.”
Triple M’s Dobbo knows firsthand the impact of drought having worked on rural properties for much of his life including as a jackeroo, stock and station agent and meat wholesaler:
“Folks on the land are doing it tough and it’s important that those of us who are in a privileged position do everything we can to make sure their voices are heard. We all need to dig deep and help our rural brothers and sisters because the fact is, without farmers, none of us eat.”