10-02-2014 08:01 PM - edited 10-02-2014 08:04 PM
At dawn on Friday, 20 trucks loaded with hay will leave the tiny southern NSW village of Burrumbuttock bound for drought-ravaged Bourke. It's not about saving farms, but saving lives, the organisers say.
''The trucks are heading off to try and stop some blokes killing themselves,'' farmer Brendan Farrell said.
''Someone's got to do something because at the moment the suicide rate is so bad up through NSW and Queensland.''
Mr Farrell, a wheat and sheep farmer, said farmers from all over the country had dropped off feed in Burrumbuttock over the past two months but even with 20 trucks delivering hay to 91 farmers, it would only buy them a month or so.
''We can't all sit around and worry about ourselves, we need to let these people know we care,'' he said. ''Farmers are just walking off the land, they are just packing up their houses and leaving or killing themselves.''
The fuel bill alone for the convoy will be about $50,000 and although some money has been collected through donation tins at local schools, many of the truck drivers will have to pick up the petrol bills.
Caron Chester, the western regional services manager with NSW Farmers, said Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett had been particularly devastated by the drought.
''They are suffering the greatest, it's been nearly two years since they had a decent rainfall,'' Ms Chester said.
Farmers were working 100 hours a week just to keep their farms functioning.
''You think in a drought they would have less work to do but it's completely the opposite,'' Ms Chester said.
One of the most useful donations people could give was IGA gift cards to help families buy groceries.
Many people had been generous with donations, including one family who offered their beachside Coffs Harbour house for a week to a Bourke family to give them some time off the land.
Read more: Here
Good to see aussie mateship still exists.
Funny how this event didn't make the news. I came across the reference on Facebook and had to google.
on 10-02-2014 08:16 PM
I think a similar situation occurred in 1970s? where peoples lawn clippings were dropped off (in my area the local showground) . I don't know how it was treated to stop it from rotting.
DEB
on 10-02-2014 08:26 PM
Yes I remember years ago in Mackay when I was visiting my daughter they were suffering a long drought, I was talking with lady who kept her horses alive with grass cuttings from the local golf course.
on 11-02-2014 01:28 PM
2gb is running a drought appeal. The money raise will be used to pay for the fuel, and if there is any left over it will be used to buy more hay, as Mr Farrell planning to do more trips.
on 11-02-2014 02:51 PM
There are also places where you can donate food for these families... it is not only the animals that need to be fed but with no income the families need help too.
These families will recover if we can band together and just help them stay afloat until the next good rain....
I would put some more info here but would probably be reported again for "advertising"
If you want to know more please send me a PM and I will give you a link where you can find a place to donate food.
on 11-02-2014 02:59 PM
what sort of food would you donate, cat?
ok non perishables, obviously. But mostly what?
on 11-02-2014 03:50 PM
They have many ways to donate... from buying a bale of hay to IGA vouchers (most have IGA locally), help with school fees.
Sent you the links to what I have ... trying to find out where the wheelie bins are... will keep you updated via a PM.