Despite the sheen of green across paddocks in western Queensland, a much-needed hay run took place to the small central west community of Yaraka over the weekend.
Thanks to a group of farmers from the Gin Gin-Rosedale-Baffle Creek area, Yaraka’s cattle this week have a diet of sweet potato and Rhodes grass hay instead of weeds.
The 2000 kilometre round trip was a revelatory experience for Rosedale cattle producer Karl Hills.
“Before we went, people were asking why we were doing this.
“They thought that because the area had rain, hay wasn’t needed anymore.
“A lot of people don’t understand that when cattle go from no feed to green feed, their guts aren’t used to it.
“One bloke told us he was still losing cattle because of this.”
The 11-strong truck convoy delivered 500 bales of hay, 25 tonnes of molasses and three tonnes of sweet potatoes, with the bonus of removing double handling and delivering straight to most properties in need.
Nick Gimblett helped organise the effort at the Yaraka end and said it had been an amazing gesture from fellow producers.
“There were no big shiny trucks, just what they use to cart cattle and cane, and the money for fuel came out of their own pockets,” he said.
“They get the fact that although the season has changed, people are still in danger of losing cattle from the pigweed that’s come up.
“And they realise that people have done it very tough for the last four years and still don’t have any income.”
Eighteen properties benefited, and the run comes on top of an earlier one by the same group to Isisford two months previously, where they delivered 560 round bales and 17 tonnes of molasses to appreciative graziers.
Rosedale’s Debbie Hills said the significance of the hay had been very much under-estimated by she and fellow donors.
“Even after being in cattle all our lives we didn’t realise how much the cattle in the Yaraka area needed our roughage to keep them from dying.
“The impact of the recent four-year drought for these farmers will be felt for many years to come.
“One told us he would need $1 million to restock his property and he only has a small property that runs 1500 head.
“He sold 1100 head in 2014 and all he had left was 20 head that wouldn’t fit on the trucks.
“When we asked him how he has paid his bills whilst having no income, he said that he simply needs to go into debt further each year until he can get some sort of income back.
“His wife works off farm in Longreach to help with food and essentials.”
She said the group had never met a more appreciative, hard-working or more deserving group for their hay and produce.
“These people made us feel so welcome, and explained the significance of what our hay means to them.
“All of the truckies came back together at the Yaraka Hotel that night for dinner and drinks with the producers.
“Everyone had their own amazing story to tell about their afternoon’s experience.
“One property hadn’t received any significant rain and was just dirt and rocks like it all was on our last visit.
“Even though each farmer, and the community, is having their own fight, they just couldn’t do enough for us.”
Karl said the hay was mostly sourced through word of mouth and had all been funded by the donors.
His group is now looking at one more effort to the region west of Blackall, after being approached for assistance when they were pulled up at a turn-off.
“These people had been promised hay from three previous runs but hadn’t received any, so our third run is borne,” he said.
“We’d never say never to people in need.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
