Burrumbuttock hay runner Brendan Farrell has confirmed the Australia Day mission to Armidale is still going full steam ahead.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Mr Farrell said in the past week he had been flat out moving hay from different depots at Horsham, Dookie and Jerilderie back over to Burrumbuttock.
At least 176 trucks are expected to head off from his property in the early hours of Friday, January laden with hay for 500 drought-stricken farmers in the Armidale region.
During a Facebook video update on January 17 he reassured farmers up north the hay run would still go ahead despite hay stocks being depleted by a crisis delivery to fire-ravaged farmers in the Upper Murray at the start of January.
"Since we took 1500 squares up to the fires it left us a bit short here at the Burrumbuttock depot," he explained.
Mr Farrell said he had received a lot of messages and phone calls from farmers asking if the hay run was going ahead since "we've given so much hay away".
"The hay run is still going ahead," he said emphatically.
"We're getting there - it hasn't been an easy job I can tell you.
"But anyway it will be right."
Mr Farrell explained BHR had sufficient stock at Horsham - "we're just trucking that over as quick as we possibly can to make sure the trucks are loaded in Burrumbuttock".
Trucks are rolling in from Rockhampton, Tweed Heads, Sydney, Newcastle and everywhere in between.
Mr Farrell paid tribute to teams on the ground at Mt Gambier and Horsham.
"We've been baling around the clock, things like that," he said.
"And there's my crew here at Walbundrie and Burrumbuttock (who) have been moving hay as well."
The convoy will spend its first night at Singleton before arriving to what is sure to be a heroes' welcome at Armidale.
"We've got a team at Singleton with the pony club and fire brigade ... they are moving mountains to make sure we are safe, fed and looked after," Mr Farrell said.
"The team at Armidale are doing the same thing ... it should be a great night."
With a heavy sigh, Mr Farrell acknowledged the severity of the bushfires but he put out ballot forms in December "and I can't let those farmers down in that area".
"When we come back from Armidale, then I will re-evaluate my personal business, how the farm's going, (how) the trucks are going and we will see what happens after that," he said.
The hay hero said actually sourcing product would be the hardest thing - "it's going to be tough to find donated stuff but we will see how we go".
Mr Farrell paid tribute to all the organisations and groups supporting communities in the wake of the recent bushfires but said drought still held farmers in its grip.
"There are a lot of charities out there doing good work," he said.
"I take my hat off to them; they are doing their part - that's the most important thing - and I do my part.
"But just don't throw stones if you live in a glass house.
"There's no need for it. I just do my thing."
