Twelve months ago the Worrell family, from just outside Baradine in the State's north-west, were recovering for devastating bushfires, a prolonged drought, and like the rest of the world, facing an uncertain future in the wake of COVID-19.
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Fast forward to 2021, and the family is wrapping up an all expenses paid seaside vacation they would never had thought possible a couple of years ago.
Eight years have passed since the family, mixed farmers, Gary and Megan, and children Bradley (16), Giaan (14), Alicia (11) and Sophie (10) enjoyed their last holiday.
For the past week the family has spent the past week holidaying in Tuncurry taking in the sights of the Great Lakes after winning the Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club Give Us A Break! competition.
"Every time we plan to go away something at home happens," Gary said.
2016 was a good year and then we didn't have rain until January 2020.
- Gary Worrell
And, just after Megan learned of their success in the competition, COVID-19 hit.
Not feeling overly confident of competition success, Megan kept her entry a secret until learning about the win. She had to tell competition judges in 25 words or less why the family wanted to visit Tuncurry.
She had been studying (Bachelor of Education) when she had flicked on to Facebook and saw the competition.
Like so many competition winners, Megan didn't believe the caller telling her of her success.
"I thought it was a hoax; it took me a bit to process."
But, when they realised it was not a joke, they became very excited.
The last time we had a holiday was eight years ago, and that we to Taree to visit relatives.
The family - especially the children - said their seven day stay was an awesome and amazing experience, fishing, swimming, shopping, boating, playing putt putt and aqua golf, and 10-pin bowling, while Bradley has been able to satisfy his taste buds, taking the opportunity to dine on a chicken schnitzel every day.
A just reward for the teenager who helped Gary crutch and sheer more than 600 ewes and lambs just before packing the car for the seven hour drive to the coast.
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Despite three years of drought the past 12 months have been relatively kind to the generational farmers.
"We went from one extreme to another," Gary said.
And, while the family was relatively prepared for the drought in the first 12 months - their silos were full of grain and the previous spring had baled 1200 of hay - it wa a team effort to stay afloat.
Gary went shearing, while Megan - who works in Baradine three days a week - and the children helped on the property after school hours, livestock was sold, including many of their Angus and Angus cross cows and calves, steers were fattened and sold.
"We just kept going forward; we made it happen."
"2016 was a good year and then we didn't have rain until January 2020," Gary said.
The family is determined to return to the Great Lakes for their next holidays.
Bowling club general manager, Terry Green was understandably chuffed he had achieved his mission to give a well deserved, struggling family a holiday to remember, a holiday away from the daily stresses of farming life.
He hopes this can be repeated next year.
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