AFTER an outpouring of community support from its inaugural campaign, the Mount Gambier Hay Run has announced another charity drive.
Initially started to support the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners trip to Armidale later this month, the Mount Gambier contingent is now in the process of organising a delivery to bushfire-ravaged Kangaroo Island.
The group has already collected around 3000 bales of hay from the wider Limestone Coast community after announcing its Armidale plans, with donations of hay, trucks and funds flowing in from as far as Melbourne.
When fires broke out and destroyed her friends’ and family’s properties on Kangaroo Island, Limestone Coast resident Candina Williams contacted childhood friend and Mount Gambier Hay Run organiser Adam Smith for help.
Mr Smith said the group jumped at the chance to help fellow South Australians.
After speaking with loved ones on Kangaroo Island, Ms Williams realised more than hay was required with general household items such as sanitary products, cleaning supplies, first aid supplies and tools added to the fundraiser.
“We are looking for donations of household items and non-perishables,” she said.
“This is on top of hay for the properties that have lost everything.
“They have the sad task of cleaning up dead livestock and putting down animals and on top of that, they have nothing to feed the ones that have survived.”
Ms Williams’ son is also part of the Country Fire Service serving on the island’s front line.
With fires reaching emergency level again yesterday afternoon, Ms Williams said she has had many sleepless nights waiting for information.
“My son did not evacuate Parndana as he is part of the CFS,” she said.
“So at the moment we are just relying on phone service staying in tact so I know he is safe.
“I spoke to him this morning (Thursday) and he has been up all night but he said he was ‘still standing’.”
As one of the three event organisers, Mr Smith has been inundated with hundreds of phone calls since the initiative’s Facebook page went live late last year.
Now the Kangaroo Island campaign has been announced, Mr Smith said he had received dozes more phone calls.
“I had probably more than 150 phone calls on Wednesday,” he said.
“Everyone wants to get involved which is amazing.
“It is the way it is down here, everyone gets behind a good cause.”
Mr Smith said there was no official date set for the Kangaroo Island delivery yet as fires are still burning, but advice from governing bodies recommends they make the journey during February.
With thousands of bales pledged to the cause, Mr Smith said the group hoped to put half towards Armidale and half towards Kangaroo
Island.
This weekend will see collection of hay from across the region start, with involved parties meeting next to the old Bunnings site at 7am on Sunday to start the process.
Trucks, trailers and utes will disperse around the Limestone Coast to gather the hay before the initial run to Armidale kicks off on January 23.
Contact Mr Smith on 0417 821 686 to get involved or visit the Mount Gambier Hay Run Facebook page.
