Here’s Where You Can Buy a Parma for a Farmer

In 2013, Charles and Tracy Alder wanted help drought-stricken Queensland farmers who were being forced to destroy livestock and, in extreme cases, leave their farms.

In times of drought, conditions can be too dry for farms to produce enough – or any – of their own feed, and a trailer of hay can cost up to $2500 plus transportation. In response, the Alders launched Buy a Bale, a hay drive allowing members of the public to donate a single hay bale or even an entire trailer load. The drive also accepts money to go toward putting food on a struggling farming family’s table.

In 2018, five years after Buy a Bale first launched, the Bureau of Meteorology reports Australia experienced the driest July nationally since 2002. It also reported the lowest rainfall on record in parts of New South Wales.

In an effort to increase donations and raise awareness of the issue, the Alders created Parma for a Farmer, an initiative where restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels across Australia will donate to Buy a Bale at least one dollar from every parma sold. There’ll also be donation tins at some venues.

Here’s a by no means exhaustive list of Victorian venues supporting the cause. If you needed an excuse to head to the pub for a parma, now you have one.

The Acorn
$2 from every parma sold until August 31.
375 Forest Road, The Basin

Albert and Sydney
$5 from every parma and $1 from every pot of Brunswick Bitter on August 31 only.
382 Sydney Road Brunswick

Bannockburn Railway Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
2 High Street, Bannockburn

The Botanical
$1 from every parma sold, on Fridays only until September 7.
169 Domain Road, South Yarra

Coldstream Brewery
$5 from every parma sold until August 31.
694 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream

College Lawn Hotel
$5 from every parma sold until August 31.
36 Greville Street, Prahran

The Corner Hotel
$1 from every parma sold every Sunday until August 31.
57 Swan Street, Richmond

The Corner Store
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
1 Swanston Street, Mentone

Cotta at Crown Casino
$2 from every parma sold until September 23.
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

Emporio Pasta at Crown Casino
$2 from every parma sold until September 23.
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

The Empress Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
714 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North

The Flying Duck Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
67 Bendigo Street, Prahran

The Grand Hotel Portarlington
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
76 Newcombe Street, Portarlington

The Hawthorn Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until September 1.
481 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

The Montague
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
355 Park Street, South Melbourne

Mrs Parma’s
$1 from every parma sold from August 24 to August 31.
19–25 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Pier Front Pizzeria
$2 from every parma sold until August 31.
98 Newcombe Street, Portarlington

The Pub at Crown Casino
$2 from every parma until September 23.
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

The Pumphouse Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
128 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy

Sister of Society
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
254 Chapel Street, Prahran

Sorrento Brewhouse
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
154–164 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento

Tin Pan Alley Foodsmiths
$1 from every parma sold until August 31.
60 Main Street, Upwey

Transport Bar
$2 from every parma sold until August 31.
Federation Square, Melbourne

Grosvenor Hotel
$1 from every parma sold until August 26.
10 Brighton Road, St Kilda East

The Cricketers
The Cricketers have put together a special offer: $26 for a parma and a pot of Coopers Session or Pale Ale, with $4 going to the Buy A Bale Campaign. This offer will be available throughout the month of September.
69 Cruikshank St, Port Melbourne

buyabale.com.au