Volunteer truckies deliver hay from WA

Western Australian farmers have donated over 3000 tonnes of feed to help their drought-ravaged New South Wales cousins, with dozens of truckies volunteering their time and machinery to deliver the hay to where it's needed most.

The Farmers Across Borders initiative was established by Esperance-based farmers Sam Starcevich and Anne Bell in 2014, their efforts resulting in a convoy of 16 road trains carrying 560 tonnes of feed.

Five years on, and the selfless pair are at it again, the intensifying drought in northwestern NSW triggering a second and far bigger humanitarian effort.

This time a convoy of around 50 road trains carrying 3000 tonnes of feed is currently en-route from WA to Cobar, NSW. The cavalcade set out from Norseman, WA, on January 22, and is due to reach their destination tomorrow on Australia Day (January 26).

A team of volunteer truckies has stepped up to transport the massive load, with some regional WA drivers set to cover over 10,000 kilometres by the time they deliver the hay and return home.

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According to Ms Starcevich, the scale of the giving – of time, money and resources – has been overwhelming.

"All volunteers on our first hay run have raised their hand to support again," she said.

"We are blown away by the generosity of our West Aussie farmers, local community and sponsors, who are all eager to help our fellow farmers still struggling in their time of need."

Both Jeep Australia and the Lion's Need for Feed initiative have thrown their support behind Farmers Across Borders, with Jeep providing food and a fleet of support vehicles to assist volunteers on their journey and Lion's Club helping to fund fuel costs and to help disperse the hay on its arrival in Cobar.

The head of Jeep, Asia Pacific Region, and the President and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia, Steve Zanlunghi, said the firm was delighted to support such a worthy cause.

"We are honoured to work with this group of passionate West Australian farmers on their quest to deliver 3000 tonnes of hay to drought-stricken farmers in Cobar, New South Wales," he said.

"We recognise the severity of the current drought and have a number of customers and dealers in affected communities. We look forward to showing our support on Australia Day and beyond."

The run from WA coincides with the 14th Burrumbuttock Hay Run, which will see another team of volunteer truckies haul hay from the NSW Riverina to Quilpie, in southwestern Queensland. That particular run, the brainchild of founder and truck driver Brendan Farrell, leaves tomorrow (January 26), will involve around 300 volunteer drivers carrying 10,000 bales of hay.

According to the NSW Government's Department of Primary Industries, nearly half of the state is drought declared, with 32.6 per cent of it – largely northwestern New South Wales – classified as being in 'intense drought'.