Christmas is coming early for fire-impacted farmers in the Moree Plains in NSW, as Aussie Hay Runners are heading their way with 75 trucks carrying 2,430 bales of golden hay.
Hay donations are coming from all over Victoria to help 265 farmers and their families to recover from fires and drying conditions.
The runs will take place over two weekends in December, with the trucks travelling to their meet up point of Tomingley on Thursday December 7 and then again on Thursday December 14.
The following mornings, the convoys of 37 and 38 trucks will set off via the Newell Highway, passing through Dubbo, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Narrabri and Moree, then on to the Gwydir Highway to arrive at the Pallamallawa Recreational Grounds by mid-afternoon.
Saturdays will be spent unloading and distributing before they head back south.
The trucks will travel a distance of 191,662km, carrying hay worth a total of $230,850.
Aussie Hay Runners founder Linda Widdup said: “Aussie Hay Runners are very proud to help our farmers, it’s not a handout – it’s a hand up.”
She added that AHR are acutely aware of other areas desperate for their help and their logistics team are working hard on their schedule for next year.
“There are just so many farmers desperately needing our help in so many areas, so if you can, please make a donation of hay,” she added.
“100% of your donation will be used to purchase hay.”
Aussie Hay Runners was founded by Widdup in 2019 as a way to help those impacted by drought and bush fires.
She has support from a small group of volunteers, as well as the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Scott Stevens and the Heyfield Lions Club, Ray Akers of Gippsland Hay Relief and Peter and Beth Sandral.
See here for more details on how to donate.