The Far South Coast’s Hay Runners saw just why local hay was needed in drought-ravaged Queensland last week.
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After an epic mission with Cobargo, Bredbo and Boorawa hay, Bruce Reid, Denny Reid, Dan Piggott and Brett Hill crossed the Clyde River on Monday afternoon after leaving Queensland on Sunday morning.
They had joined Burrumbuttock Hay Runners organiser Brendan Farrell on the 11th mission to help the drought-stricken state.
The scenes Denny saw at Ilfracombe, near Longreach left him in no doubt about the importance of their mission as part of the massive Hay Run convoy.
“I would do it again tomorrow,” the Bay Removals driver said.
“I drive all around Australia, but I have seen nothing like that.”
The 44 big bales of Cobargo hay were donated by dairy farming couple Aaron and Emma Salway, beef and sheep farming brothers Daniel and Damien Allen and agriculture contractor Matt Warden, who cut and bailed the hay from a paddock adjacent to the showground.
Daniel Allen said Far South Coast farmers were lucky to have had a good season with hay to spare.
He said it was heartwarming to see all the hay from the latest run piled up in Queensland.
“We’ve got more than enough to get us through… we thought it would be good idea to help out those in need,” he said.
Asked if he would do it again, Bruce Reid replied they were going again in three months’ time.
We’ve got more than enough [hay] to get us through... we thought it would be good idea to help out those in need.
- Daniel Allen
He said some parts of north-west Queensland were green, while others were dry.
“Just the size of it; it is just dry,” Mr Reid said.
“When the wind starts blowing, there is just dust everywhere.”
A fundraiser to support the Hay Runners will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 8.30pm at the Royal Willows Hotel in Pambula.
The night will feature the band White Noise, who on their Facebook page describe themselves as being about all kinds of music played loud.
There will be an Aussie theme, with a best costume prize, lucky door prize, giveaways and raffles.
The fundraiser’s organiser, Sammy Fuge, said a fair few farmers from the Bega Valley had donated loads of hay to the hay run. The money raised at the fundraiser in Pambula will go towards the drivers’ travelling costs, such as diesel and tires, as well as to buy some hay.
A lot of companies have got behind the night, with the Royal Willows providing the venue, White Noise playing for free and Twofold Security donating security for the night.
Even the raffle ticket books have been donated.