A volunteer hay runner has helped support hundreds of farmers across western NSW in just two years, but says he will continue to lend a hand when the drought eventually breaks.
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Tom started Tommy's Truck Hay Run after helping a drought-affected friend out west.
He posted a few photos online which prompted others to put up their hand to help.
"Before I knew it we had seven loads out to Trundle and after we finished those loads we kept rolling on from there," Tom explained.
In the last 12 months, he has affiliated with charity Feed for Farmers.
"It's just gone heywire. We've raised over $200,000 and every cent of that has gone out in feed to farmers," Tom said.
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Road trains and semi-trailers are sent out to drop-off points across the region to deliver the hay.
Over the course of the two years since starting the hay run, deliveries have been made at places including Tottenham, Tullamore, Warren, Nyngan, Mumbil, Stuart Town, Wellington and Condobolin.
Since starting more than 250 farmers have been helped, some more than once.
Once the drought breaks we will still be helping farmers for at least another couple of years and just try to give as much support as we can.
- Tom, Tommy's Truck Hay Run
"There's certain farmers we've helped quite a few times because they've been doing it so tough... just people who are completely and utterly stuck we have continued to support certain farms who really needed it," Tom explained.
While the recent rain is making the region look much better, Tom said a lot of places have still missed out.
"I think most of the areas that we've hit have got some rain and a bit of water in the dams but it's the follow-up rain that they need," he explained.
"You look around and see this (green) but if they don't get the follow-up rain within a month, the winter time will come and all this grass will burn off."
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Tom said that even if the drought breaks soon, a lot of farmers will fail to get back on their feet because not only are some in debt but they've had to sell stock.
"But the other thing too.... even when it becomes lush it's really not the end of the drought... there's a money drought that's the problem and the farmers are still doing it so tough and they're going to be doing it tough for a few years. A lot of them will fail to get back on their feet," he explained.
"There's still a very long way to go. Once the drought breaks we will still be helping farmers for at least another couple of years and just try to give as much support as we can."
Tom also said the storms that have come with the rain have caused a lot of damage to properties, with many fences destroyed.
Support for Tommy's Truck Hay Run has come from far and wide, including at the Macquarie Correctional Centre, who donated $6500 through a chocolate fundraiser from staff and inmates.
"They have given us three significant donations now," he added.
"I know them very well now and they've actually helped to give me leads of some farmers they know, so we make sure we help them out."
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Tom was at the Mumbil Music and Markets event on Saturday meeting with landholders and taking donations.
"I've had a talk to a few farmers, it's been really good," he said.
"We're helping people that don't put their hand up most of the time."
If you would like to find out more and to see the amazing work being undertaken please visit 'Hay Run Tommy's Truck' on Facebook.
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
