Today, around midday, the Aussie Hay Runners will pass through Hexham with a significant convoy of hay en route to aid struggling farmers in the northern part of the state. This marks the beginning of their first run into Wauchope this weekend. Starting on Friday morning, 34 trucks will depart from Marulan on the Hume Highway at 8 am. The convoy will traverse through Sydney via the M7 and M2 around 10 am, then move on to the M1, passing through Hexham around midday. A brief stop in the township of Bulahdelah at 1 pm will precede their arrival in Wauchope at 4 pm.
The initiative’s second run into Wauchope is scheduled just two weeks later, with an additional 34 trucks joining the effort. Overall, the combined effort of these two runs will see 68 trucks covering a total of 166,964 kilometers, carrying 3,560 bales of hay valued at $338,200. This assistance will directly benefit 250 farmers, their families, and consequently, their communities.
Despite their commendable efforts, some farmers in the area have unfortunately been unable to receive aid. Linda, a member of the team, acknowledged the challenges, stating, “It’s just impossible to keep up. We do the best we can to assist as many as we can on every run, but the need is just so great.” Furthermore, with additional recent fires, the team is gearing up for a busy end to 2023, with six more runs planned for the final weeks of the year.
