It’s been described as unforgettable day for drought-affected farmers when 50 road trains carrying 3500 bales of emergency hay rolled into Cobar on Australia Day.
The hay, which took four days to travel from Western Australia to NSW, was thanks to a group of Western Australian farmers called Farmers Across Borders and a $375,000 NSW Government Donated Fodder Transport subsidy.
NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) chief executive officer, Kate Lorimer-Ward, said there was a broad range of support available to assist farmers and their families.
“We can’t make it rain but we are doing what we can to support our farmers and regional communities who are struggling with ongoing drought,” Ms Lorimer-Ward said.
She said this included the Donated Fodder Transport subsidy, which covered the cost of transporting donated fodder when transport providers work with community groups to distribute fodder to drought-affected properties.
“The fact that this convoy arrived at Cobar on Australia Day is very fitting – what could be more Australian than farmers from Western Australia, who have had a good season, helping drought-stricken farmers 3,000 kilometres away in NSW,” she said.
To date, the NSW Government has provided almost $10 million in Donated Fodder Transport subsidies.
Lions Club Need for Feed founder, Graham Cockerell, who was co-ordinating the hay run, said this was their largest hay delivery to date.
“Many farms throughout western NSW resemble a dust bowl – the farmers are doing it tough, stock have no feed, and transport and fodder is costly,” Mr Cockerell said.
Mr Cockerell said Farmers Across Borders had donated the hay and drove it themselves more than 3,000 kilometres across the country before it was distributed to 350 farmers in north west of NSW.
“We also have trucks coming from Victoria and South Australia into Cobar, so it’s a national effort.
“I would like to sincerely thank the NSW Government for their support – without the subsidy the fodder run could not go ahead.”
Farmers Across Borders was founded in 2014 by Esperance, WA farmers Sam Starcevich and Anne Bell.
Ms Starcevich says she was honoured to help out other farmers struggling in need on Australia Day.
“We are incredibly proud to lead Western Australia’s largest hay run and deliver to drought affected farmers in NSW on Australia Day,” Ms Starchevich said.
“The generosity and support from all of the volunteers, farmers, truck drivers, Jeep Australia and Lions Need for Feed is the ultimate expression of Aussie mateship.”
Head of Jeep Brand, Asia Pacific Region and President and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia, Steve Zanlunghi said he was delighted to be able to support the cause.
“We are thrilled to help Farmers Across Borders achieve their goal. Their generosity is something to be proud of,” he said.
Farmers Across Borders will work in conjunction with Lion’s Need for Feed to disperse the hay to farmers within a 500km radius of Cobar.
Jeep Australia provided food and a fleet of support vehicles to assist volunteers throughout their journey.
For more information on the NSW Government’s more than $1.1 billion drought response package, visitwww.droughthub.nsw.gov.au.
