Latest news with #KevinSchlenert
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Climate
- SBS Australia
‘Dead cows in the house': How floods devastated Australian farmers
Dairy farmer Kevin Schlenert says he's continuing to find cattle who were washed away in floodwaters. Some are turning up alive, but many are still being discovered dead far downstream. Source: SBS News Content warning: The story contains distressing images of dead animals. Brothers Kevin and Doug Schlenert have been lifelong dairy farmers, carrying on in the footsteps of three generations of their family. Floods that devastated the NSW mid-north coast last week destroyed their diary production facilities and killed at least 70 per cent of their herd. "I've got no dairy now to keep going. I don't know which way to turn at the current moment,' Kevin said, speaking with SBS News at his home in Glenthorne on Sunday. "I don't know if I can bounce back from this. I really don't know.' Kevin said the water rose so fast he became trapped inside his home for 24 hours before he was picked up in a neighbour's boat. "It raised very quick. I went to the steps [of my house] within half an hour, then all of a sudden, in an hour and a half it was at the windowsill. "I sat in my bedroom on the mattress where I was found floating. "I had my dog and cat on the mattress with me. I had to vacate out the window.' He said one heifer floated into the house, while he sat on his floating mattress. "One got into my bedroom. She was alive and swimming, and she wanted to climb on the mattress," Kevin said. What he saw when he returned shattered him. "I found three [cattle] alive in my house and five dead ones inside the house. I have removed them and buried them," Kevin said. "It's heartbreaking to see them because you reared them as babies, and you get attached to them." He said he found more dead cattle downriver and heard of more washed up on beaches. Kevin's story is one shared by many dairy farmers in the area. His brother Doug, who shares the property and dairy with Kevin and also lost livestock, says the entire community is "drained". "There's a few dairy farmers here that haven't been hit bloody hard, they've been hit that hard it's not funny," Doug told SBS News on Wednesday. "One family, they've lost a hundred head of cattle — and they were big freaking cows. "The dairy industry up in the Manning is a big community. But [in] times like this we'll struggle." During a visit to the area on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a dairy farm in West Taree. Doug says he would have liked to have seen the Albanese visit more impacted farmers. "He didn't come anywhere near me. He didn't show his face in Glenthorne." "I'd like to say to him, 'I found 32 dead cows, prime minister, are you gonna replace them?'" Kevin said cows are turning up alive, but it's difficult to get them back to the pastures. "We're not equipped to go onto the beaches and find them," he said. "We don't have horses, motorbikes to get them off the beaches, and there's still cattle running loose on the streets." Since Kevin's story was first shared this week, many have expressed sorrow and a desire to help. Kevin and Doug said they've felt touched by the messages of support, but stressed their plight was shared across the region, by dairy farmers, feed producers, oyster growers, beekeepers, shops, and residents. "If people want to help, they can help — we've just gotta get the dairy up and running. That's going to be a real big task," Doug said. But both he and Kevin said they're not sure if they'll be able to come back from this. "I think this has just pushed the boundaries too far." "I've been through the 2021 flood, and this year I think this is the fourth one I've been through, and I don't know if I can come out of this on the other side of it." "It's in our blood — my dad, his dad, and his dad. Three generations of dairy farmers," Doug said. He says they need a new vat and compressors to start up dairy production again, as their equipment was destroyed in the flood. For now, they're milking cows in a neighbour's dairy. Kevin says he's received the one-off $1,000 payment made available for flood victims. He says he's also eligible for a $130,000 two-year interest-free loan from the government. "Then I'd start paying it back over 12 years. That would be getting me close up to 70 years of age, I don't know if I still want to be dairying then," Kevin said. More than money, Kevin wants to see real and lasting change. He wants flood warning sirens installed across the Manning River catchment, which is one of the biggest in NSW. "Make sure the sirens are put on the river because you never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us again," Kevin said. "If the river rises, they go off quicker than what the SES can get the text messages to us or any news crew get messages to us." "If the politicians don't get off their bums and put the flood warning sirens in place, it's not going to prevent another disaster like this." While in the region this week, Albanese acknowledged the particular challenge facing primary producers, including dairy farmers. "We know there are major challenges, but what we're about now is dealing with the immediate concerns of recovery and looking after people during this period," Albanese said. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said he'd like to see more meaningful support for farmers. "We haven't heard any indication of when a category C or D declaration might be made, which would unlock what we know is needed for primary producers and also for small businesses, which is grant funding," Saunders said. "Nobody can manage or wants another concession alone. That's currently what's on offer. Nobody can afford that. Nobody's had insurance. "If they've had a loan previously, they're worried about paying that off. They need a helping hand in the form of a grant. They do not need another loan." Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain on Wednesday said the federal government was "hoping to enact category C ... shortly". A spokesperson for Dairy Australia said as well as financial support, the mental health of farmers is a growing concern, given the scale of the flood impacts. "Dairy Australia's regional teams are reaching out to flood-affected farmers with direct check-in calls to better understand the impact on their farms and well-being," the spokesperson said. "The locally led NSW Dairy Emergency Leadership Group is also providing practical support, prioritising immediate response needs such as assisting in allocating/sourcing fodder, generator support for those without power, milking machine techs, vet assistance, matching options for cow parking, mental health support, and communications to impacted farmers." Dairy Australia says some fundraisers have been set up for impacted farmers, but that the organisation does not endorse any specific charity or fundraising campaign. "We do note that the NSW SES is leading the flood response, and Rural Aid has stepped in to provide practical support to farmers recovering from natural disasters. Both of these organisations accept donations," the spokesperson said. Hundreds of fundraisers have been set up for residents and businesses impacted by the NSW floods. A spokesperson for GoFundMe says it has established a crisis team to oversee heightened fundraising activity. "We also launched a dedicated hub of verified fundraisers to help Australians discover fundraisers for those impacted by the floods." "It is not uncommon for those with no direct connection to launch a fundraiser, out of kindness and goodwill. In these cases, all donations are safely held until GoFundMe are able to ensure that funds can be transferred safely to the intended beneficiary. "If our specialists are unable to verify a connection, the fundraiser will be removed and donors refunded." Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at .
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: ‘culture of total disrespect' in schools; Ukraine hit with massive air raids; Piastri third in Monaco
Good morning. Our main story today looks at a growing 'culture of total disrespect' in schools, with teachers reporting a shocking rise in bullying behaviour and even violence towards them. Some are deciding to quit the profession. Meanwhile, Ukraine has hit out at US 'silence' after Russia carried out its largest air raid of the war – and we learn more about the tragedy faced by two doctors in Gaza after nine of their 10 children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. And, we look at the devastating impacts of the NSW floods on rural communities where farmers have been left counting the costs as they bury their dead animals. After the floods | Kevin Schlenert (above) survived the NSW floods – but his dairy farm might not. Like many others in his region, the third-generation farmer is at 'breaking point' as he buries his dead cattle. 'Culture of disrespect' | A review into bullying at Australian schools has been welcomed, but teachers say their needs must be considered to arrest a dramatic decline in staff retention rates as they face violence and threats. 'Life-changing impacts' | Under new reforms, GPs in NSW will be among the first in Australia to diagnose and provide medication for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Analysis | A ferocious campaign is trying to discredit Labor's plan to trim tax breaks for people with more than $3m in retirement. No wonder reform is so hard in this country, Patrick Commins writes. AI looms | Optus's new chief executive, Stephen Rue, says AI will play a significant role in the future of telecommunications, but humans will remain central to the company. Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine has condemned the United States' 'silence' after Russia's largest air raid of the war, with a second straight night of massive drone and ballistic missile strikes; Ukraine and Russia have completed a '1,000-for-1,000' prisoner exchange. Gaza crisis | Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours have killed at least 38 people in Gaza, Palestinian health officials say; we also share a Gaza doctor's last goodbye before nine of her children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Trade wars | Germany's finance minister has joined a chorus of European politicians in calling for talks with the US after Donald Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on imports from Europe. Polish elections | Tens of thousands of people in Warsaw have taken part in duelling political marches, led by the two men vying for the Polish presidency in a 1 June runoff election. US politics | Tech boss Elon Musk drifts to the edge of Trump's world; Trump administration tells border shelters that helping migrants might be illegal; the latest casualties in Trump's war on the arts: small museums keeping local histories alive. 'Hollowing out': why so many people are leaving New Zealand New Zealand is known as a dream destination – with its verdant, rolling hills and picture-perfect scenery. But some locals are feeling that's not enough to keep them anchored to its islands. Journalist Michelle Duff speaks with Reged Ahmad about why New Zealand is facing a mass exodus as people of working age flee the weak economy. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ Thrifting was made for times like these; a prolonged period of high living costs and consumer pushback against the excesses of fast fashion has led to soaring interest in buying secondhand clothes and pre-owned homewares. But big business is tapping into the trend, drawing mixed reactions from thrifters accustomed to spending their money at charitable op shops. Why is the US chain Savers dividing Australian shoppers? In the latest of our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a teller who accidentally overpaid a customer on Christmas Eve and then felt the dread of thinking her wages would be docked when her boss found out. Crisis was averted by a knock on the window – the customer had rushed back across town in the holiday traffic to return the money. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Football | Premier League winners Liverpool will share points with Crystal Palace before getting the party started; Newcastle have scraped into a Champions League spot; Chelsea have secured a top-five spot to end Nottingham Forest's Champions League dream; Aston Villa rage at the referee as their Champions League hopes evaporate. AFL | Melbourne's muscular missile Kozzie Pickett ensured the Demons' revival continues, Jonathan Horn writes. Motorsport | Lando Norris won the Monaco F1 grand prix, to close the gap on championship leader Oscar Piastri who placed third. Cycling | Carlos Verona raced to a solo victory on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia, as title favourite Primož Roglič lost more time on the pink jersey. Queensland's new $88m shark control scheme aims to protect beachgoers with 'innovative technologies' – but, as the ABC News reports, some are questioning whether it is even legal. A surge in informal election votes in hospitals and aged care facilities has drawn official scrutiny – and casts doubts over some close results, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Modelling suggests US tariffs could deliver a $1.25bn hit to Victoria's budget in just one year, the Age reports. Victoria | The trial of murder accused Erin Patterson continues in Morwell. NSW | The Bondi Junction stabbing attack inquest continues. Queensland | The Australian Energy Producers Conference is being held this week in Brisbane. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
‘A heifer came into the bedroom': Kevin survived the NSW floods – but his dairy farm might not
When the water began to rise on Kevin Schlenert's farm in Glenthorne near Taree, eventually submerging every inch of it, he took shelter on a raised mattress in his bedroom. But as he waited for help, fearing the worst, some of his cattle had the same idea. 'I had a heifer come into the bedroom,' Schlenert says. 'She wanted to jump on the mattress and I had to actually push her back to get away from me. I felt bloody terrible doing it but it was either me or her. All I kept saying to myself was, 'I am not ready to drown and die here. I don't want to die here.' Schlenert spent a night huddled with his cows, surrounded by water, last week. When he was eventually rescued by a neighbour on a boat, he left with just his clothes, his cat and dog. When the water subsided and Schlenert returned to his home, he discovered five of his cows had died inside. Another three were alive in the home, but needed urgent care. 'People have said to me: 'Why didn't you have the doors closed?' I did have them shut to try to keep the water out, but the pressure of the cows and the water was just too much,' he says. Like many farmers in the region, Schlenert is now burying his dead stock. So far, he's discovered 15 dead cows. But he says about 70% of his herd has been washed away, unaccounted for. At the flood's peak, the water rose until only a metre or so of the dairy's roof was exposed. 'We are trying to organise other farmers to take our cows to milk as the dairy is a total write-off,' he says. 'We don't have power and I assume we won't have it for weeks.' Schlenert, 57, is a third-generation farmer. He has now seen five major floods tear through the region, including in 1978, when the Manning River breached its banks. Now 'virtually homeless' and staying with friends, he fears he is being forced to 'give up on the industry'. 'It's just got to the point where I think this will send me bankrupt,' Schlenert says. 'I think I have no choice. This is breaking point for me.' Peita Carroll, who runs a Sydney rock oyster farm near the Manning River estuary, says her stock has also been decimated. She has now endured five floods in five years. She says she won't be able to sell anything for another two years. 'We always get left behind because no one sees our stock die,' Carroll says. 'They see the cows and they see the sheep – this is a big farming area – people share the images. But this is our stock too.' Like many others, Schlenert and Carroll are mostly uninsured. This is not uncommon, according to the Insurance Council of Australia's Andrew Hall, who says insurance rates for flood-prone areas are 'less than one in four'. So far, more than 3,600 insurance claims have been lodged after the severe flooding across the mid-north coast, Hunter and greater Sydney regions. Four in five claims are for personal property, with the remainder being commercial and motor claims. 'People who can least afford to lose everything are living in homes that were built in the wrong location and often have very little flood defences available to them,' Hall told ABC TV on Sunday. Hall says far more money needs to be spent on preventive measures, to limit the impact of future floods. While surveying the damage to his property and stock, Schlenert agrees. 'Why hasn't the Manning River got sirens on it that alert people to when it's peaking?' he asks. 'Why haven't the politicians got off their arses and made this happen? They need to get them in place as soon as possible.' As the focus turns from rescue to recovery, the state government has announced 'a range of immediate support measures' for those affected by the floods, including hardship payments. Schlenert is pleading with the government to move as quickly as possible. The state's premier, Chris Minns, acknowledges these payments have not always helped desperate people in a timely fashion. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We're determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past, given we're having more and more of these natural disasters,' Minns said on the weekend. As people await long-term help, neighbours have been doing all they can to support each other. In Taree, India Boss and Chloe Graham handed out cold beers to strangers sweeping mud and rubbish from homes. Earlier in the day, they carried sausages in bread to those fighting exhaustion. The huge piles of rubbish gathered by the volunteers include picture frames and children's toys, washed from far-away homes. Mattresses, chairs and tables have been tossed onto the pile awaiting collection. Local businesses in Wingham, to the north-west of Taree, have been providing free food and drinks to those 'who've lost everything'. Paul, who runs a local pizza shop in the town, says it was like the community 'was forgotten for a few days'. 'It was just very hard to get resources,' says Paul. 'It was no one's fault, it was just a once-in-a-lifetime flood. It's very tough.' The state's housing minister, Rose Jackson, says the government is committed to helping those in need and is 'working closely with emergency services and community leaders to understand what locals need and provide help to those impacted'. Almost 200 additional emergency service partners from Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT have been deployed to the area to help the state emergency service (SES). 'So far, 480 damage assessments have been carried out, with building inundation seen in many locations, and many have sustained significant damage and are unhabitable,' SES assistant commissioner Allison Flaxman said. The agency has responded to more than 7,400 incidents and conducted almost 800 flood rescues. In the 24 hours to Sunday morning, there were 328 incidents reported to the SES, including 16 flood rescues. More than 40 people remained in evacuation centres, unable to return home. While many people are now focused on rebuilding their lives, the SES is urging them not to become complacent. 'I get why people want to get back on the road and get back into the communities where they can but again, my message is, do not go through flood waters,' says the SES commissioner, Mike Wassing. 'I want to see zero flood rescues tomorrow. That's my aim, and I need people to and the community members to help me in achieving that aim.'
