"HOW did anyone know just how devastating this drought was going to be?"

And so starts the letter of Leanne Welsh, a farmer from Calivil, 70 km north of Bendigo, who is organising a Christmas celebration for families associated with the East Loddon P-12 College.

Leanne tells a heart-wrenching story of her community’s struggle with drought and her message is bound for the businesses of Bendigo, Melbourne and beyond.

She is trying to ensure the spirits of her neighbours are not swept away with their topsoil and their livelihoods this Christmas.

"How do you explain to someone, not from the land, that the price of our stock selling in August and again, in October – similar quality – dropped from over $700 per head to less than $300, in the space of less than three months," Leanne said.

"It’s the same right across the board. Our agricultural industry is facing some very tough times ahead."

Leanne acknowledges the wonderful work of the Salvation Army in organising gifts and Christmas dinner for more than 1200 families this year, but feels there are even more families "hurting" because of the drought. She has booked the East Loddon P-12 College school grounds for Monday, December 18, for a sausage sizzle, face painting, gumboot throwing, Jaffa smashing, egg races, balloon races, guessing competitions and clowns.

"I hope to promote a positive atmosphere to keep that country spirit alive by creating a day that will highlight our school, our families and our children – I just hope they can forget their worries for a day."

That day is all about putting the magic back into Christmas through some low-cost, good old fashioned country fun, and hopefully some assistance from her city neighbours.

"I am in the process of sourcing donations to provide meat, salad, bread and drinks, free of charge to the kids and their families. I have a couple of jumping castles and a merry-go-round organised but I am just waiting on donations to confirm these activities also.

"I’ve sent an urgent S.O.S. to a certain gentleman dressed in red, hoping that we might get a special pre-Christmas visit as well.

"If you can help me create this atmosphere, some extra special hope plus a touch of magic with a donation of funds, food, drinks or goods to sell or use as prizes, I would be so grateful.

"If not, I fully understand that times are tough."

There’s perhaps no one who understands this more than the local farming communities.

"The last few years have been dry enough but this year has just obliterated our countryside," Leanne said. "Our water allocations don’t look like going much higher.

"We are all facing some huge challenges as we head into another long, hot summer. I don’t think my children have seen decent rain yet and my eldest beautiful daughter is seven.

"Lack of rain is destroying our dreams, our livelihoods, and our futures, through no fault of our own. "I’m very worried about the effects this pressure is having on our farmers and parents and I’m scared of what the future holds for this area."

If you can help provide goods, food or drinks or prizes for the day phone Leanne on 5436 6281 or 0429 797 986 or email welsh20@aapt.net.au.