Katalia Murphy and Joscisca Matapakia from Walcha are some of the younger participants, at 14 years of age, in this week's youth drought summit near Newcastle.
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"My mum runs the local RSL and as there is not money left in town. She is running our of ideas on how to keep it open, as no one can afford to go out to dinner," Katalia said in her application to attend the summit.
"This means that I have less time with mum at home and I am scared if we don't get rain, my mum won't have a job anymore."
Katalai wrote that she was so used to living in the dust and brown that when she goes away it is weird to see rain and green grass.
"Last time I went to Coffs Harbour I took a photo of how green the grass. Then we saw the rain we were so excited. We saw the rain, and we ran out to muck around but then realised we would not be getting this at home."
Katalia and Joscisca are part of a group of several students from the local area attending the summit.
I want to come home and see my cows again. I want to walk on grass that doesn't turn to dust beneath my feet.
- Lucinda Ball
Piyumi Ekanayake was seven-years-old when her family migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka. Her application to the drought youth summit was motivated by her friends at school, who are struggling with anxiety and mental health issues.
"Students are from different parts of the region and as my friends talk they show their anxiety.I hope I can share their stories with the wider community.
Piyumi said "she had noticed the change in her friends as they were from farming families and were struggling in the current conditions.
"I want to contribute at the summit and learn a lot so that when we come home, I can go and talk to the local council with some ideas that might help our local young people," Piyumi said.
Piyumi spoke very well of her observations of Armidale and the difficulties it was now facing, not only with drought but fighting fires with little water.
Another applicant, Rachael Roan, comes from a family who own a sheep property in Armidale.
"We are currently experiencing one of the worst droughts we've ever seen," Rachael said.
"As I spend the majority of my year in Sydney for university, I've had the opportunity to see how the drought is perceived from both the view of the people from home as well as my friends and acquaintances here in Sydney.
"What this has emphasised is just how significant the disconnect is between what goes on in the city and the issues that rural and regional Australia face (at least I've found this to be true amongst my generation and peers).
"While I know many city-based people are aware of the drought, I've been horrified by the lack of understanding and interest by many people I've encountered," Rachael said.
Lucinda Josee Ball another successful applicant wrote in her application:
"I believe so strongly about talking about drought, an what it means for Australia. There is no way we can ignore this problem, especially when it's not just the government being affected.
It's every family every parent, every child, that is feeling the impact of this drought. It is the children that will grow up with this problem, and we will quite likely be left with this problem too. I want to come home and see my cows again. i want to walk on grass that doesn't turn to dust beneath my feet. I want to talk about drought, emotionally, unapologetically and vulnerably.
In June 2019 we sold our last 12 cattle and last group of livestock, due to the inability to feed feed or water them sufficiently. I had never been at home where we hand';t had some form of animal roaming the paddocks."
The NSW Youth Summit on Living with Drought, starting on Wednesday, will run for three days and students from around the state are attending,