The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners have hit the road.
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Six Southern Highlander truck drivers loaded their vehicles at 7am on Thursday morning, January 25, in preparation for their 1400 kilometre journey to farmers doing it tough in Cunnamulla in Queensland.
Jacob Rofe, Joel Lidgard, Ben Shaw, father and son Mark and Riley Ferguson, Mike Hudson and Peter Shaw will join a convoy of more than 120 other trucks from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and even Tasmania, in Darlington Point tonight, before heading north tomorrow.
The Highland drivers will transport more than 400 hay bales, as well as toiletry goods, garden mulch and books, to struggling farming families in the small drought-stricken town in south-west Queensland.
Jacob Rofe said the journey is not just about providing much-needed resources to the families, but to offer them support and solidarity.
“The feed will only go so far,” Mr Rofe said.
“It might only last them two or three weeks.
“But it’s more about mental support and camaraderie, and showing that a wealthy farming community in the Southern Highlands wants to help poorer farming families.
“The drought plays on their minds, and if we can show them that there are other Australians out there who care, we might just win against that black dog, even if for just a little while.”
The Bowral Co-Op has been supporting the initiative over the past few months, encouraging customers to buy an $18 bale of hay alongside their purchases, to boost the amount of goods delivered by the hay runners.
“We’ve had about 400 donation bales so far. Including a semi-trailer load of hay worth $4000,” Mr Rofe said.
“We’ve also got horse feed, dog food, toiletries, and garden mulch that we’ll be delivering.
“It’s easy for us because we’ve got the gear. So we ought to help.”
Mr Rofe said each truck journey will cost about $1000 in fuel – more than $100,000 all together – which is the biggest expense the hay runners face.
You can donate to the cause via the Rotary Club here.