BALES aplenty were the order of the day as almost two dozen tracks laden with hay had a quick stop over in Bulahdelah for lunch on their way to supply much needed hay to struggling farmers in the northern part of the state.

This was the first of two planned runs into Wauchope, with a second run planned in two weeks with an additional 34 trucks joining the effort.

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Overall, the combined effort of these two runs will see 68 trucks covering a total of 166,964 kilometers, carrying 3,560 bales of hay valued at $338,200.

This assistance will directly benefit 250 farmers, their families and their communities.

Despite their commendable efforts, some farmers in the area have unfortunately been unable to receive aid.

Linda Widdup, a member of the team, acknowledged the challenges, saying, “It’s just impossible to keep up and we do the best we can to assist as many as we can on every run, but the need is just so great.”

Furthermore, with additional recent fires and increasing drought conditions, the team is gearing up for a busy end to 2023, with six more runs planned for the final weeks of the year.

The Aussie Hay Runners would like to thank the Bulahdelah Lions Club for the provision of lunch, their supporters, the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, their team of volunteers and the locals who came to cheer them on.

You can find out more and follow their progress on their Facebook page @aussiehayrunners.

By John SAHYOUN