Chris’ Farm is back on track
Chris’ journey with RFCS NSW started in 2013 when he found himself struggling due to a series of challenging events. Chris’ farm is in a remote area of Central West NSW. His farm primarily focusses on sheep, with cattle trading and crop production mainly for stockfeed.
As a full-time single parent, he faced numerous pressures, but despite some good years, financial stability was often borderline. A mate of Chris’ recognised the heavy load Chris was carrying and recommended RFCS NSW. Chris was quickly connected with RFC Andrew Turnbull, and although he says he felt initially hesitant as he had never really asked for help before, soon found he was able to open up to Andrew.
“Andrew was fantastic, he got the ball rolling and was able to help me get through what I was going through financially at that time and relieve the financial pressures I was facing,” says Chris.
In 2019 Chris faced new challenges after he suffered a brain injury and a shocking farm accident also badly injured his son. The combination of these events left the farm in limbo and Chris was unsure if they would be able to keep it going. During this period RFCS NSW’s assistance was invaluable to Chris, helping him navigate the financial stress and regain stability.
More recently, Chris connected with RFCs Anke Rudolph and Sue Bunyan. Their support was crucial in managing financial pressures, particularly the complexities of dealing with banks. “Sue and Anke visited me on the farm. We sat on the verandah, had a chat and a cuppa and I was able to express my situation and the assistance I needed,” Chris says.
“The information and knowledge provided by Sue and Anke is invaluable. Despite having some finance knowledge from my university days, the expertise and skill set of the RFCs, particularly in dealing with bankers and understanding the necessary terminology is crucial. This expertise relieved the burden of managing complex financial tasks, allowing me to focus on running the farm and caring for my son,” he says.
“RFCS NSW has been a positive and transformative experience, they exceeded every expectation with respect, concern and genuine desire to help,” says Chris.
“The RFCs worked tirelessly, communicating effectively and ensuring that all necessary information was accurate and up to date. They significantly reduced my workload, made improvements and provided honest, empathetic and professional support. The unique empathy and genuine care made a profound impact on me and my farms recovery.”
With RFCS NSW help Chris’s farm is now back on track and things are looking positive.
“I wouldn’t have been able to cope with everything that was going on in the tight time frames that were set. From my perspective I am glad that I reached out and I hope that sharing my story will encourage others struggling in financial situations to reach out to RFCS NSW”, he says.
