Horses and People Still Stranded in Rockhampton

After last week's terrible flooding in South East Queesland, we mustn't forget that many people in Rockhampton have been flooded out of their homes and stranded for over three weeks.

 

Katy Driver of Caboonbah Stud, located near Toogoolawah SEQ, has herself been affected by the floods, however, despite her own hardships she is keen to help out others who are in an even worse situation.

 

Horsezone spoke to Katy this morning, when she explained that the situation in Rockhampton is still dire, “the water is going down but it will still be a while before people can get back to their houses to start the clean up, as most are still under water.”

“There are alot of people stranded still at the Rockhampton showgrounds with their horses and they have lost most of their belongings. These are the people I am wanting to get help for. Even when they can get home they will have no grass and lost all their feed supplies. They haven’t been able to work so have no income to help cover the costs of their lives let alone their horses, but all of them have their horses as their first priority. Some are eligible for government help but that doesn't cover their horses and would only barely help them survive.”

 

"There are over 60 horses at the showgrounds and they range from children's ponies and show horses to a whole stud of Shire horses. This number does not include racehorses.  The Shire horses should be able to go home in about two weeks, however, that will mean there will still be over 30 horses stuck in Rocky for at least four weeks."

 

Katy decided the best way to help the stranded people and their horses, was by providing practical needs in the form of feed, fencing equipment and other essential horsey items. So Katy is working with ROCKY FEED AND SEED, a produce store in Rockhampton, to get whatever is required, especially feed, out to the Rockhampton showgrounds.

Donations can be made directly to the ROCKY FEED AND SEED bank account and a friend of Katy's at the Showground will ensure donated feed is distributed evenly amongst horses stranded there.  Fencing equipment is being donated to those who have lost absolutely everything at home and will not even have a safe area to keep their horses, while they try to rebuild their lives.

“All we need to do is put the money in the Rocky Feed and Seed bank account,” Katy says. “Even if you can only afford $25-$30 that is a bag of feed or at least few bales of hay to help.”

If like Katy, you want your donation to the flood cause to go directly towards helping fellow horse people, especially those stranded in Rockhampton, make a donation  to Rocky Feed And Seed (Phone: 07 4922 7307):

WESTPAC BANK
ACC NAME: ROCKY FEED AND SEED
BSB: 034 210
ACC#: 219110

Once a donation has been made please email Katy at caboonbahstud@gmail.com and let her know how much has been paid into the account. Katy will update Rocky Feed And Seed daily to let them know how much feed can be taken out to the showgrounds. Her contact at the grounds will ensure the distribution.