While most people were enjoying time off over the Queen's Birthday long weekend, a group of generous volunteers from across Victoria and NSW took the time to deliver vital supplies to the Moree district's drought-stricken farmers.
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A total of 11 trucks and seven support vehicles, laden with hay and hampers, and 22 volunteers, arrived in Bellata on Saturday evening as part of the Lions Need for Feed Disaster Relief.
It's the second time Need for Feed volunteers have delivered crucial support to Moree's farmers, after coming in August last year.
This time, 53 farmers from Bellata, Gurley, Moree, Pallamallawa, Biniguy and Gravesend received hay, hampers, Lions Christmas cakes and trauma teddies from the Lions Foundation, during the drop on Sunday, June 9.
For most of the farmers, the delivery was a much-welcome surprise.
"A majority didn't know we were coming on the weekend," Need for Feed committee member Cassandra McLaren said.
"They were relieved, incredibly grateful and incredibly humble in their response."
Ms McLaren said while the donation means a lot to farmers doing it tough, it's often the knowledge that people care that gives them the bigger boost to keep going.
"We know it can't sustain them for long periods of time, but it just gives a bit of love and hope," she said.
"It shows somebody cares about the situation they're in and that they haven't been forgotten.
"Our volunteers just want to help. We're glad to give up our weekend to come and give assistance and a little bit of love and hope.
Our volunteers just want to help. We're glad to give up our weekend to come and give assistance and a little bit of love and hope.
- Cassandra McLaren, Need for Feed committee member
"We're glad to be able to do it again."
Ms McLaren said while Need for Feed does a major hay run every six weeks or so, it has trucks on the road every day.
Much of the hay delivered to Moree's farmers was purchased from Victoria, however Ms McLaren said as supplies run thin down south, it has become "extremely expensive". They've now started looking to source hay from the Sunshine Coast.
Donations have also dwindled as media attention of the drought died down, so Ms McLaren encourages anyone who may be in a position to donate financially or sponsor a truck, to get in touch via the Need for Feed Disaster Relief website or Facebook page.
"We're having to purchase fodder, so if anyone has any links to someone with fodder, or is in a position to donate financially, we'd be extremely grateful," she said.
Any farmer in need of supplies is encouraged to register for assistance at www.needforfeed.org. Assistance is only given to regional primary producers whose income is mostly from farming.
