Model Victoria Lee: How the drought's affected my family

Dryer conditions in recent months have left Australian farmers struggling, and the devastating impact of the drought is something model Victoria Lee and her family are very familiar with.

Speaking to Be, 28-year-old Victoria says growing up in New South Wales country town Narrandera taught her to save water by all means, and while she’s no longer living there, her extended family and friends are still back home facing the drought.

“This has been happening for years,” says the David Jones ambassador. “It’s a real testament to the farmers, just how resilient and tough they are and continue to be.

“I think about home and growing up we were always so conscious of water conservation,” she continues.

“I grew up having short showers and actually saving the water in our shower in a bucket and then putting it on the plants and not washing our car.”

The Victoria’s Secret model says these habits have stuck with her as she’s pursued a modelling career in New York.

“You’re so conscious of that and I carry that with me always,” she explains.

“I’ve always had short showers, I try and get in and out of there as quick as I can. I’m so grateful to have that upbringing and awareness.”

Victoria says her parents are “in town”, but “many of my family and friends are on property” in Narrandera, and dealing with the failing crops and diminishing livestock as a result of the short water supply.

The town of Narrandera is located in the Riverina region of southern NSW, with a population of 3,746 as per the 2016 Census.

Last week Narrandera Mayor Neville Kschenka spoke about the further $500 million being offered to support farmer through the NSW Government’s Emergency Drought Relief Package.

“This package will bring vital relief to our local farmers struggling to continue productivity in their businesses. While our shire is not the worst hit area of NSW nevertheless many of our farmers are doing it pretty tough,” he said in an official council statement.

Earlier this week official figures showed 100% of NSW is now impacted by drought, with less than 10 millimetres of rain recorded in the western, northwest, and central areas of the state over the past month.

AAP reports that drier-than-normal conditions are forecast for the next three months across the majority of the state.

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