Father died in accident

Lungau family: “The encouragement gives a lot of strength”

Thank you for your willingness to help: Barbara Süß with Stefan and Elisabeth(Bild: ROLAND_HOLITZKY)

The father of the family died in an accident five years ago while working in the forest. Since then, nothing has been the same for the Süß family from Lungau. The Bergbauernchristkind helps them to find their way back to life.

It was five years ago. A cold February day. Her husband Georg was in the forest logging with friends. He was at the bottom and suddenly no more trees came down. It remained silent, forever.

The family drew new strength after the stroke of fate. "We don't know exactly how it happened," says Barbara Süß, talking about the initial period after the accident. "It's like being in a trance. Corona came straight away and the children stayed at home from school. That really bonded us together."

The work on the farm in Pichlern (St. Margarethen) initially fell entirely to her. "We built another stable in 2010," says Süß. There were also debts. The Chamber of Agriculture organized a community service worker to bridge the initial emergency situation. And right from the start, the Kiwanis Club Salzburg, led by Klaus Pfeiffenberger, sent the Bergbauchristkind over for Christmas. Barbara Süß says thank you: "It was so good to be supported."

Today, the farm with 60 animals is leased out and the farmer's wife is employed there. This year, the Kiwanis Christ Child is coming by again for the twelve-year-old daughter. Brother Stefan is already 17 and is doing an apprenticeship as a butcher. It remains to be seen whether he wants to take over the farm one day. His father is missing. No one can pass on the love of farming like he can.