Aussie Hay Runners has completed its largest run to date, delivering more than 100 truckloads of donated hay to farming communities across South Australia on the long weekend.
With funding support coming from the South Australian government, the massive truck convoy travelled a total of 218,770kms with 3,630 bales of donated hoy loaded at a value of $400,000.
The hay drop-offs are helping more than 130 farmers as well as their families and their communities.
“We couldn’t be prouder working alongside the South Australian government, and we wish to acknowledge and thank everyone who has been involved in making this run happen – and believe me, there’s been a lot involved,” Aussie Hay Runners founder Linda Widdup says.
“As always, our reputation is of utmost importance to us and every single bale is top quality oaten or wheaten hay with the highest nutritional value possible, it’s so fresh, it’s just been baled.
“Aussie Hay Runners are extremely proud to help farmers, it’s not a handout – it’s a hand up.”
The convoy left early Saturday morning via the Calder Highway bound for Peterborough travelling via Sea Lake, Mildura, Renmark, Morgan and Burra to arrive at the Peterborough Rodeo Grounds.
On Sunday morning, trucks headed in all directions to cover the massive expanse of the 11 local government areas of Adelaide Plains, Ceduna, Elliston, Goyder, Mid Murray, Mount Remarkable, Murray Bridge, Northern Areas, Orroroo Carrieton, Peterborough and Wakefield.
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Charitable organisations including Aussie Hay Runners, Need for Feed, Rapid Relief Team and Rural Aid have been and are continuing to deliver thousands of bales of donated hay to hundreds of farmers and their communities in regions across the state, from the South East to the Mid-North, Murraylands, and all the way to the Eyre Peninsula.
The SA government’s $18 million drought support package also includes $5 million for the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Rebate Scheme, which provides rebates of up to 75 per cent (to a maximum of $5,000 excluding GST) to assist with eligible projects that manage drought conditions and strengthen drought preparedness, with strong interest in the scheme.
“It is at our toughest times that Australians show their true spirit of compassion and generosity. Our strong sense of community shines, and this hay run is an example of Australians looking out for each other,” duty member for Frome Tony Piccolo says.
“It is no accident that on this Australia Day weekend, our farmers from other parts of Australia worked with other charity groups like Hay Runners to support farmers in our state doing it tough at the moment.
“This is more than an act of charity, it’s about people coming together to ensure we all survive this drought with the least possible damage to our farmers and small rural towns.
“When our farmers are hurting so are the people in the small townships, and vice versa. It is great to see our farmers on the Adelaide Plains and Mid North being supported by the broader community.”
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