In response to the bush fires in October 2023, Aussie Hay Runners are heading to the Clarence Valley Shire in NSW with 67 trucks loaded with 2,144 bales of hay to help out struggling farmers.
Supported by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Scott Stevens and the Heyfield Lions Club, Ray Akers of Gippsland Hay Relief, local Debrah Novack, Linda Widdup and her small team of volunteers and Aussie Hay Runners’ large team of drivers are gearing up for their third run into the Clarence Valley.
This run will see 67 trucks travelling a total of 98,860km, carrying 2,144 premium bales of hay valued at $203,680 total, with hay donations coming from all over Victoria.
This will directly assist 201 farmers, their families and in turn, their communities, to recover from bush fires.
It is Aussie Hay Runners’ second run of 2024 and their 21st run in total.
Trucks will travel to their meetup point of Marulan on Thursday January 25, and on Friday morning the convoy of trucks will set off via the Hume Highway, travelling through Sydney via the M7 and M2 around 9:30am, onto the M1 with a rest stop at Bulahdelah around midday.
They’ll then continue via the M1, arriving in Grafton by late afternoon. Saturday will be spent unloading with allocations to farmers coordinated by volunteer Debrah Novack.
If you are a farmer in the Clarence Valley LGA and have been affected by bush fires, head to the Aussie Hay Runners Facebook page to find out how to apply for assistance.
Aussie Hay Runners says it is acutely aware of other areas desperate for help and its logistics team are working hard on the schedule for 2024.
“There are just so many farmers desperately needing our help in so many areas, so if you can, please make a donation,” said organiser Linda Widdup.
Aussie Hay Runners was established in 2019 by Linda Widdup, who lives in regional Victoria.
Watching the impact of the devastating effects of the drought, she wanted to help in some small way.
Now in her fifth year with a small group of dedicated volunteers and a large group of drivers, AHR is proudly supported by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Scott Stevens and Heyfield Lions Club and Ray Akers of Gippsland Hay Relief.