“The delivery will help a lot of farmers around Moree and across the region,” Moree Lions Club president Vicky Lyons said.

“I have seen a lot of [drought-relief] campaigns pop up around town and the community is really throwing their support behind this cause.”

The armada of trucks is part of Need for Feed Disaster Relief, a Lion’s Club campaign. Hay was ferried from Tasmania to Melbourne last week, and a band of volunteer truck drivers raised their hands to cart the vital supplies to places like Tamworth, Inverell and Moree Plains Shire.

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“Truck drivers left Melbourne either Saturday or Sunday and have driven more than 1,000 kilometres to get here,” volunteer Glen Phillips said.

Mr Phillips counted 14 trucks were carrying around 400 bales, with a combined weight of 300 tonnes arrived in Moree on Tuesday night.

“The energy has been very positive, and the people helping out have been fantastic,” he said.

Mr Phillips was on that wave of positiveness, and was eager to hit the road early Wednesday morning to deliver the hay.

“This is my first hay run. A few of my friends got into it, and I thought it would be good to join a cause like this one.”

Mr Phillips noted that the trip to Moree had opened his eyes to the reality of the drought in New South Wales.

“You start off in the south of the state and everything looks lush and green. Then right before you get to Dubbo, everything is just dry. The land is completely different.”

Thanks were sent to Burke and Wills Motor Inn, Spa Village Travel Inn and Econo Lodge Moree Spa Motor Inn for offering up accommodation. 

Reado’s Meat, Moree Bakehouse and Racecourse Takeaway were also given a special mention for the provision of a free breakfast and lunch to the drivers.

Any farmer who is in need of supplies can register at www.needforfeed.org.