By Margaret Maccoll
Alpaca farmer Dawn Perryman has reduced her flock of alpacas to a quarter of its former size and is selling her farm because she can no longer operate it without the help of wwoofers.
Wwoofers or willing workers on organic farms were made up mainly of overseas travellers who used to volunteer to work on Dawn’s farm in exchange for food and accommodation and could gain skills while completing their 88 days’ regional work required to obtain a second year working holiday 417 visa.
Dawn said when the government changed the laws last year, visa applicants needed to show payslips for their 88-day work requirement and volunteering no longer qualified as suitable work.
Dawn has farmed alpacas since 1994, has bus tours visit her property and runs workshops for people wanting to have alpacas.
She said many of her visiting volunteers were young professionals who enjoyed working and staying at her clean, kind family farm.
“You can’t put a price on goodwill – that nice warm feeling you get when you’re treated well in a foreign country,” she said.
She said the volunteers had a knock-on effect for the community and the country, staying a second year and spending money, as well as returning home and telling others of their experience.
Dawn brought some of her alpacas and wool garments to the Noosa Country Show, but said without her volunteer helpers it was difficult to plan events.
It had also reduced her number of show appearances, which had previously been regular occastions.
