Beaudesert truckie Kris Jennings leaves for his first hay run into flood-stricken Quilpie tomorrow before an even bigger mercy mission a week later, if the roads remain open.
The boss of Jennings Bulk Haulage was finalising gear for his voluntary haul into the hard-hit Quilpie and Adavale regions carrying two decks loaded with 90 bales when Big Rigs called today, relieved to have all the initial impediments behind him for the 1000km trip.
Moved by recent TV news footage of the flood devastation in the state’s south west and desperate to do what he could to help, Jennings had put the call out on social media for hay donations a few days back.
He was swamped with offers but said he was then told by Rural Aid that there wasn’t any demand for the fodder and the Department of Primary Industries said unfumigated hay from outside the region was too much of a fire ant risk.
The state department has engaged Rural Aid, a not-for-profit that supports farmers during natural disasters, to coordinate hay and feed drops for animals that managed to survive the rising water.
When he shared the disappointing news on social media that his offer to help had been knocked back, there was an outcry of support for Jennings that reached all the way up to the Queensland Premier’s office.
“We understand the situation with South West Queensland and fire ants and weeds but any other day of the week if we fill out a hay declaration, hay can go anywhere,” Jennings said in an impassioned video.
“Because two mates [Aaron Lankowski is coordinating the Adavale drops] want to get together with their own money and other wonderful local Australians and do something good the agency has put us down.
“I don’t know what this country has come to, but if this was anyone overseas they would bend red tape to help people.
“To say they have enough hay out west for these people is bulls–t and I bet if we were a charity this would be OK, but because it’s two local Australian lads it can’t happen.”
A defiant Jennings promised that he was going to make the run without official support, but fortunately it didn’t come to that with the DPI misunderstanding quickly cleared up.
“It is wonderful to see the thousands of shares and it’s pulled some strings and the right people are behind me,” he said.
“To the head at DPI thank you for doing the right thing, reaching out to see me this morning, asking what went wrong, it is much appreciated, thank you for you sending your men out to get the hay inspected and giving me the certificate, it is appreciated.
“To the fire ant people thank you for calling me and saying you will get behind me to make sure there’s no hold up so we can support the people in the bush.
“To the people who’ve reached out to offer money and support it is not needed, I don’t want a cent, send the money out west, ring the local pub ask them who the money can go to.”
Jennings said the proposed follow-up hay run from the end of next week will be “bigger than Ben Hur”, with 10-15 loaded road trains and voluntary drivers ready to help out.
The big-hearted truckie has also put the call out for fridge van and food donations from the respective majors and already got a call from Nolan’s Interstate Transport putting their hand up to help.
“I don’t want to step on any toes. I just want to get out everywhere that’s gone under water and not got power.”
Jennings paid tribute to his staff at Jennings Bulk Haulage for affording him the time to step away the 11-truck fleet and do what he can to help.
“We’ve got beautiful staff. I can step away at any given time and those boys just keep the show going for me.”
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters told ABC News that the organisation hasn’t stopped anyone from delivering fodder.
“That’s not our role, we don’t have the authority to do that,” he said.