City sends drought support for country to get together

Plates, glassware and cutlery will go to show societies and other groups across the region and beyond, to help them to host functions - something that's "very, very important in the drought".

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) worked with surplus-retail-goods "matchmaker" Good360 to gather the goods.

They arrived along with children's toys, funded by the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which will go to local kids in time for Christmas.

Tamworth P&A Association president Greg Townsend said the donations from "our city cousins" would "go a long way".

"For the farmer at the moment ... a social event is a big thing," he said.

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"Let's hope it raises the spirits of a lot of different communities ... this stuff is going far and wide."

RAS councillor Greg Watson, who is a stud cattle breeder in the area, said he hoped it would "cheer people up a bit".

"We were recipients of a care package one time and it really touched my heart," he said.

"It was a just a pair of little cotton socks wrapped up as a present, with a card that a kid had made up.

"That just makes you feel so much better; it gives you the feeling that there are people that do care ...

"Feeding cattle is one thing; keeping people's spirits up and keeping them part of the community and active goes a long way to helping as well."

Parry Logistics moved the goods from Sydney to Tamworth, and Mr Townsend's business Country Capital Meats took the delivery.

Volunteers from show societies and other groups in Manilla, Gunnedah, Boggabri, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Baradine, Moree, Coonabarabran, Mendooran and Spring Ridge are among those who will collect the goods.