LOCALS RALLY AGAIN FOR DROUGHT STRICKEN FARMERS

Following on from the successful drought assistance run to Marthaguy (2 hours out of Dubbo) organised by Tahlia and Simone in October last year, another run has been in the planning. With the help of some Channel 9 advertising, facebook campaigns, and stories running in our November magazine, more locals got involved. The next drought run left Glenorie for Forbes on Saturday 25th January and involved an amazing convoy of 35 trucks, 4 utes and 30 people volunteering their time. When we asked Simone, from Chicken Fish Takeaway in Glenorie, how the next drought assistance was organised, she said: "So many locals helped both with donations and financial support. Special thanks must go to the big hearted great man Brian Weinart and his lovely wife Vicki for coming along side and arranging the trucks and assistance with loading, and many donations, Mark Hinton who help support me and this idea, the amazing Sakkal family for their contribution, Amos Vaughn, and Glenorie Stockfeeds, D&G Stockfeeds, Camille Alexander for her undying support, Kellie and Tony Marsden for standing by me all the way. Thanks also to Borthwick & Pengilly Asphalts. W Residential. Chris and Carolyn Sultana. Martin Morris and Jones Real Estate Wollongong. Ace Ohlsson Wayne Macauley Civex. James Hermon and Family. Andrew and Allison Baildon. Heidi and Russell Scott. Dave Pursell Big Dave, Startrack David Ives Byron Schwebel Daniel Campbell Louise Taylor and Sheryl Hookham for their support. Thanks also to Glenorie Public School for their multi-day fundraiser, Oakhill Drive Public School who donated food hampers, Galston Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Lions Club and Glenorie RSL for their support too. So many people have been so generous. Who would have thought all this could happen from one High School student who wanted to do something to help the farmers? The support received from this community and beyond, has been just outstanding As they say, 'From little things, big things grow'. With all the attention recently going, quite rightly, to the devastating bushfires. It's not surprising we have taken our eyes off the farmers, but they are and will be struggling for a long time. We must not forget them. We have raised over $120,000 in animal feed, food and groceries and water for the farmers themselves, not to mention fuel, and we have raised several thousand dollars which we will buy vouchers at the local shops in Forbes, to help support them too. We recently sent a truck load of hay to a farmer is SA to help them. We hope to be able to do this more often'. Simone and Tahlia will be organising another trip later this year, so your support is always welcomed. Financial support to their charity 'Our Plate to their Paddock' can be given by direct credit to: Bendigo Bank Galston, BSB 633-000

Account number 169 724 689. They also have a GoFundMe page. Search Our Plate to their Paddock. You can follow events on their facebook page www.facebook. com/Our-Plate-To-TheirPaddock You can watch a video of the trucks leaving Glenorie on our facebook page, www. facebook.com/galstonnews. Simone and Tahlia will be recording videos of the trip and these will be available on their facebook page.

Main organising committee Tahlia, Simone, Tony & Kellie Marsden and Mark Hinton.

Photos above: credit Tani Vollmer Skyline Productions Empty dams

Livestock with no feed. Handing out vouchers purchased in Forbes to help support the local shops and community.

Photo Cher Campbell Locals out at 6am to see off the convoy.

Arriving in Forbes

Food Hampers