A short story about us

While performing Australian bush poetry in Cunnamulla in South West Queensland, Mick Martin witnessed first-hand the struggles of local farmers during a prolonged drought.

Mick and a group of mates were motivated to initiate a farmer assistance, registered charity with activities including taking farmers, men and women, away for well-earned respite at various holiday style locations. These were so successful that many other activities followed including farm visits and Christmas assistance farm runs to support families.

The most recent activities include supply and installation of kitchens for farmers that need them. Groups of tradies and volunteers now assess, visit and complete all sorts of projects. Mick and mates have now started and continue to run a charity called ‘Mates at the Gate Inc’.

The next step ...

on five occasions taken groups of farmers, men and women, away for respite breaks to Fraser Island in Queensland
supplied and installed three new kitchens with another one under way
supplied the materials for and fitted a new station house roof
organised teams of tradies and willing volunteers to travel to remote areas completing various on farm visits
supplied approximately 120 solar panels for farmers to use
completed a major construction work and reinstated a farm cottage for workers and visitors (so that the kids can stay in their own rooms when vets, workers etc. arrive and stay over)
raised funds to assist with school fees ($28,000) which were anonymously donated by a generous benefactor
collected and dispersed approximately 2,300 new work garments to rural communities and directly to farmers (value approximately $45,000)
collected and dispersed a full shop load of high-end fashion garments for ladies in the Cunnamulla district to give a bit of ‘sparkle’ to those ladies who had been struggling through many years of drought
completed annual Christmas runs to farmers supplying collected new toys, equipment, tools, and food to lighten the load of drought affected rural families
Mick Martin has presented to various service clubs whose donations have been passed on to the appropriate recipients in rural communities
instrumental in sharing almost $36,000 of drought relief funds collected by Lions clubs, Rotary clubs, and used to pay unpaid bills for farmers in Western Qld
established online groups for farmers, men and women, to build mutual support and constant communications with each other
donated Starlink communications for farmers that were struggling with out-dated landline communications

These activities have been successfully done on a part-time basis although it often seems like a full-time job, with no funds going through individual organiser’s accounts. That has been a challenge! The registration of Mates at the Gate means that the group can now accomplish much more under the strict reporting processes of the charity governance.

There are always opportunities to assist our rural communities so if you, or someone you know, wants to assist either in practical terms, tradies etc, or financially, you can rest assured your offer and subsequent efforts will be gratefully accepted.

Mates at the Gate is now a registered not for profit organisation (LTD ACN 681 950 765) which exists to assist farmers and rural families.

Mick and his mates have been assisting farming men and farming women since 2019.

Since starting Mates at the Gate, and its various activities, and before getting registered, the group has assisted farmers in the following ways: