The usual population of Ilfracombe in western Queensland is 200 but that has risen to around a thousand people this weekend as the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners machine rolled into town.
As well as 13,500 bales of hay, a full support crew of loader operators, cooks and food, care packages and gift packs, entertainment, massagers and hairdressers got to work as the sun rose on Saturday.
Not content with driving 1800km, two mini-convoys of 40 trucks each fired up their engines in the dawn to trek further north and west to Winton and Muttaburra to take hay closer to some of the graziers who need it.
Other trucks, such as those from Moss Vale, carried three loads of hay from Sydney Water’s Picton Reuse Farm straight out to graziers nearby, such as the Back family at Griffdale and Navarre, who have been feeding sheep for a number of years now.
Heath Willis said he had come up with the first convoy to Ilfracombe in January and saw how it put smiles on everyone’s faces.
“It wasn’t an option not to come back,” he said. “We have to keep going for the people here.”
Back at the base camp at the Ilfracombe racecourse, Jenny Todd was busy directing a well-organised stream of trucks and trailers collecting hay and produce.
“We helped over 250 people today and there’ll be 50 to 100 here on Sunday,” the relieved helper said on Saturday evening. “We’ll be helping over 225,000 head of stock. I’m really happy, it’s great.”
Further round the circuit were two refrigerated vans side by side from different parts of the country, distributing cartons of fresh produce from the packing sheds of Griffith and Bundaberg.
Watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, limes and oranges went home with dozen of grateful families.
“I cried half a dozen times today,” Bundaberg’s Georgia Bennier said. “Everyone was just hugging us.
“A friend came out in January, and I jumped on board when there was a chance to do it again.
“I saw how hard people have been doing it and I thought, if the government isn’t going to help them, someone’s got to.
“We fundraised, about $13,500 for household goods, but I wouldn’t be able to put a dollar value on the produce here.”
The Sydney Rotary Club has been managing the cash donations that subsidise fuel costs for Hay Runner volunteers and president Andrew Laurie was on hand at Ilfracombe, along with Longreach club member Dave Phelps, a founder of the Western Queensland Drought Appeal committee.
Mr Laurie said he and his 140 urban members had benefited greatly from their work.
“It’s opened our eyes to the extent of the drought, and the knock-on effects it’s having in the communities,” he said.
“We’re really encouraged and excited to see how many Australians want to help fellow Aussies, and the hope they’re giving people is making a big difference.”
While up at Winton the South Burnett Hay Runners had the opportunity to hand out toys to children, thanks to a donation of a garbage bag-ful from a woman in the Burnett.
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