Berringa Community News News and views from the residents of Bellbridge, Bethanga, Granya & Talgarno Circulation: 570 ABN: 96 071 800 843
Winter 2016
Jono Joins the Hay Run Two hundred and fifty eight trucks and 403 trailers making a 100 km convoy, 14,000 bales of hay worth $6 million dollars, and a 4,000 km round-trip. The numbers speak for themselves on the Burrumbuttock Hay Run to help drought-stricken farmers in Queensland. The Run, which began in 2014, relies entirely on volunteers and donations of hay and other good, with drivers and trucks coming from Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. In April, Talgarno’s Jonathon (Jono) Green joined the convoy, donating his time to drive hay donated by local residents the Hayes, Mitchells (Alan and Ross Mitchell and families of Mitchell pastoral Bethanga), Zauner, F.J. Star and Sons, and the Greens. Greenfreight generously donated the use of a truck and trailer.
The Burrumbuttock Hay Run was started in 2014 by Brendan Farrell, who got together with some friends to deliver hay to struggling farmers in Bourke, NSW. The Run has since grown in size, with the April Run likely to have broken world records (though not an official Guinness World Record) for the longest convoy.
After loading his truck with hay, Jono made his way to Burrumbuttock where he joined the convoy heading north. The trip took three days, passing through towns such as Darlington Point and Cobar. The logistics of the trip boggle the mind, with over 500 people (most trucks had passengers) to feed and look after. Scheduled breaks and overnight stops were carefully planned given approximately 100 acres were needed to fit all the parked Jono says the plight of farmers in Queensland motivated trucks. In addition, mechanics and support vehicles him to help. “It’s the Aussie spirit, to help people out joined the convoy. that need help.” Things fell into place when Greenfreight The hay was delivered to Ilfracombe, a small town with gave him permission to use a truck and hay donors were just a pub and a few houses, and distributed from there found. “You forget because its green here and the to farms within the region. The influx of trucks brought drought has broken, that central Queensland and parts not only hay, but also produce including food and serof NSW are still very much in drought. People are just vices such as hairdressers. working to feed their stock. There were stories of people living on Weetbix and tinned food because that’s all they For Jono, it was an experience of a lifetime, with the most rewarding part of the trip seeing how grateful the could afford.”