Wimmera backs hay runner effort
Murtoa is gearing up for a big pre-christmas night of celebration in an effort to support droughtstricken communities in NSW and Queensland.
Plans are in place for a Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Christmas Ball at the town’s Railway Hotel on December 22.
The charity fundraiser, starting during the day, will feature music, Christmas carols, family and children’s activities and a barbecue.
Organisers are also promoting the event as a chance for the regional community to gather for Christmas cheer while helping to support a worthy cause.
A major highlight will be the Christmas ball, with band Acousticus Stomp performing throughout the night free of charge.
The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, BHR, concept involves dedicated groups across the country that provide transport runs of hay to drought-affected farmers.
During a December build-up to the Murtoa ball, a Wimmera group will be busy cutting, producing and baling hay and straw in preparation for a major Australia Day run to Quilpie in Queensland.
Sam Mcgennisken of Green Lake, who has been collecting hay and straw donations, said the Wimmera group was trying to build on a stockpile at Wonwondah.
“We’re looking for paddocks to windrow, hay donations, trucks, trailers and volunteers for stacking and contractors willing to give up some of their time to help bale,” he said.
“It’s a big job but we have to keep doing what we can.
“I went up north on Australia Day last year and didn’t realise how bad things were and that they were only getting worse.
“It was a massive eye-opener and really made us want to do it again.”
Tama Australia is donating string for baling and various outlets are donating some of the fuel needed to truck the hay north.
Hay run origins
The Burrumbuttock Hay Run started in 2014 when NSW truck-driver Brendan ‘Bumper’ Farrell heard about a farmer in Bourke who was struggling in the drought.
He contacted the farmer and offered to bring him a truckload of hay to help him out.
This was when the ‘Burrumbuttock to Bourke Hay Run’ was born, which then became the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners.
Since 2014 the BHR team has completed 13 successful hay runs to help farmers across NSW and Queensland.
Mr Mcgennisken said the Wimmera group had grown from him and Robert Armstrong to a team of at least a dozen.
“It’s a real mix of farmers, business operators, trucks and contractors. There are plenty of people involved,” he said.
Efforts include Bernard Delahunty and a group of volunteers at Murtoa who have so far raised $876 for the hay runners.
$ UDIÀH GXULQJ 0XUWRD¶V %LJ Weekend Show ’n’ Shine of a Lou Richards portrait airbrushed by Andrew Slattery raised $450.
Another donation of $250 came from coffee sales at the Big Weekend’s art show and tin-rattles at the Murtoa Show and Railway Hotel.
People keen to volunteer their services or seeking more information can call Mr Mcgennisken on 0488 219 802 or text Robert Armstrong on 0497 589 776.
People can make cash donations to Rotary Club of Sydney. Details are available on website hayrunners.com or Facebook page Burrumbuttock Hay Runners.
The majority of northern NSW and Queensland is currently ‘drought declared’, impacting on farmers, businesses, schools and communities.