A CHARITY organisation has dug deep to help cover the $35,000 fuel costs of the Mount Gambier Hay Run, which delivered thousands of bales to fire-ravaged farming communities.
Businesses, individuals and other philanthropic organisations across the region have donated thousands of dollars to cover the fuel costs of around 30 trucks that carried fodder to Kangaroo Island.
This fodder – donated by dozens of farmers across the region – was a critical lifeline for farmers whose properties were razed by bushfires.
St Vincent de Paul yesterday donated $5000 to the hay run movement in a heart-felt gesture to help cover the fuel cost of truck drivers who donated their time to ferry hay to bushfire zones.
“We wanted to help the truck drivers who carted the hay to these areas,” St Vincent de Paul spokesperson John D’Souza said yesterday.
“We wanted to show out support for doing such a good job supporting farmers, who are the backbone of communities and the economy.”
Mr D’Souza said the Mount Gambier Hay Run demonstrated the “amazing” community spirit in the Limestone Coast.
“These people were volunteers who came together to help others in need,” he said.
K&S Fuels general manager Peter Sims said the company – which distributed fuel cards to the truck drivers in the convoy – was “extremely happy” to play a part in the hay runners initiative.
“Organiser Adam Smith and his helpers have done a really good job to arrange all of those truck drivers,” Mr Sims said.
A 30-truck convoy transported the much needed fodder to Kangaroo Island following the fire emergency that swept through the island.
“The K&S played a small part in collecting and distributing fuel cards to the appropriate people,” he said.
“The South East community contributed to the cost of the fuel from small mums and dads to organisations such as Rotary and Lions Club and now St Vinnies.”
Mr Sims said there was also a number of prominent business people who poured funds into the initiative.
“We have now pretty well covered the fuel bill, which is a terrific outcome,” he said.
“A lot of those truck drivers gave their time free of charge and many companies made their trucks also available free of charge.
“The Mount Gambier community and the business community need to be congratulated on such great support.”
Organisations were forced to raise funds for the fuel given the State Government had no transport subsidy program in place to help transport donated hay, unlike New South Wales and Victoria.
Mount Gambier Hay Run also delivered fodder to Keilira fire and joined the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners on the Australia Day weekend in NSW to help drought-stricken farmers.
