After years of reporting on the impact of drought, our team of journalists had a conversation about how we could create a special publication that truly acknowledged the magnitude of this natural disaster.
We felt we needed to provide a historical account of the worst drought on record while also highlighting the incredible work being done on farms and in communities to preserve the welfare of stock, keep producing crops and look after each other.
And so 100 Stories of Hope was born. This important project is a collaboration between the journalists at Queensland Country Life, The Land, Stock & Land and Farmonline.
Here we take a snapshot look at all Stores of Hope from New South Wales. Each summary provides a link to the full story so you can continue reading these incredible yarns.
'Why we aren't doing away with breeding in dry'
Mother and daughter duo Joanne and Tracey Gowen are hand feeding their 400 breeders at Walcha and Uralla in NSW. They're not feeding for survival though, they are feeding for production.
The pair are well back on the 600 to 650 Angus females they would run on Barrakee and Argyll and despite a threatening water shortage from back-to-back dry seasons, their October/November still went ahead.
Canola crop defies rainfall
Griffith farmer and agronomist, Barry Haskins, has managed to grow a dryland canola crop which yielded from one to 1.4 tonnes a hectare, with only 140 millimetres of rain.
Mr Haskins said the crop had two falls of around 40mm, just after the 200ha crop was dry-sown in early April.
This enabled the canola to get up and going enough for its roots to reach deep moisture, conserved in the soil since 2016.
Mother, wife and daughter essential
The partnership combination has long been the mainstay of operating farming businesses in Australia, and through this drought the power of two people working in unison is irresistible.
Such is the case for Tony and Annabel Wallace on Erinvale, Murringo, which has been in the family for 21 years.
In the breeding at Walgett
The Walgett area in North West NSW produces some top stock - people included - because it takes a certain type to thrive in these parts.
The Holcombe family at Burren Junction are of just such stock. Punctuated by a good 2016 winter, they've otherwise been in drought for seven years and in February will have fed stock for three straight years.
Lawrence was blown away by human kindness
Just over nine years ago an explosion blew off his left foot, broke every bone in his face and burnt 75 per cent of his body but Canowindra farmer, Lawrence Balcomb, says he is a very lucky person.
His luck started when his mother, Moyna, came home from town and heard his cries for help as he lay on the ground, a bleeding, burnt and battered mess. But so many more stars aligned that day...
Big plans ahead for Emily's life
There may be many farm-bred youth who leave home for other careers and never return to the farm, but not Emily Mosely.
She has her eyes squarely set on returning home to the farm after gaining tertiary and industry experience.
Crop harvested despite drought
Despite drought conditions and minimal in-crop rainfall, some farmers in the Coonamble district of NSW have managed to get a crop through to harvest this year, showcasing the importance of zero tillage systems, good weed control and varietal choice.
Coonamble farmer Tony Single said about half the normal cropping program had been planted at Narratigah after a break of up to 70 millimetres of rain fell in March.
Planning budgets ahead for James'
Keeping ahead of the situation is first priority for everything that will happen on the James family's 3080 hectare property, Springvale, and it's all about looking positively to the future - three months ahead at least.
As Anthony James, wife Libby, and Anthony's parents, Lyndon and Wendy, foresee deterioration, they set a plan to face the challenge head-on.
Muster helps Grenfell local reach space dreams
In 18 years the Weddin Mountain Muster has grown from a handful of people to 110 riders and a wait list to participate.
The trail riding event is held at the Grenfell Showgrounds in spring and chairman Don Robinson said for years the event has raised money for the showground's maintenance and upgrades, while ensuring the local community also benefits.