Twenty-three road trains loaded with 1,200 tonnes of hay arrived in Condobolin today to assist drought-stricken farmers and their families, as part of RRT’s $2 million drought relief effort.

The convoy is being donated by the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), an initiative of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which is staffed by Church volunteers who lend a helping hand to those in need.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor, a farmer himself, travelled to Condobolin to help with the arrival of the hay, after coordinating deliveries to the Wollondilly area last weekend and the Condobolin district today. He will be assisting the Rapid Relief Team in further fodder deliveries.

“It’s terrific to see so many people and organisations, from the city and country, who are rallying to support NSW farming communities and I particularly acknowledge the Rapid Relief Team’s generous contributions,” said Mr Taylor.

“Farmers are putting their livelihoods on the line during this drought. In response the Federal Governmment has committed $576 million in drought measures.”

Key metrics for the hay convoy:

• The convoy travelled some 3,500km from Northam, Western Australia to Condobolin, NSW
• Over five days, it traversed the Nullabor, stopping at Ceduna, Port Augusta and Broken Hill.
• The donated hay is worth $660,000, and will see 2,300 bales distributed to 200 farmers
• This is enough hay to feed 1,000 cows or 20,000 sheep through to Australia Day 2019.

The NSW Government has declared “100 per cent” of the state is now in drought, with experts predicting it is the worst drought the state has experienced in 400 years.

A spokesperson for the Rapid Relief Team, Michael Wilson, said the RRT is always looking for opportunities to provide gestures of compassion and support to those in need.

“This drought is affecting everyone right across NSW, so we knew we needed to pitch in and raise funds to relieve our state’s farmers who are currently doing it very tough,” said Mr Wilson.  

“We have committed 100 per cent of every dollar to the farmers and ther families, not only through the hay convoy to the Condobolin district but through our entire Operation Drought Relief.

“We genuinely hope our hay deliveries to farmers in the Condobolin district and Wollondilly, and our efforts with IGA and Foodworks to provide food coupons to farming families will go some way to providing drought relief.

The RRT also deployed its volunteers to host a community barbeque breakfast in Condobolin at “The Common” to raise additional funds to help.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the fundraising and logistical effort in securing the hay was nothing short of extraordinary.

“The Rapid Relief Team has shown incredible generosity and compassion in organising this cross-country delivery of hay,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Recently, as a government we announced a $1 billion drought relief package for NSW farmers, but everyone knows governments can only do so much, and day’s like today that show what’s possible when all of us combine our efforts to support people that are hurting,” he said.   

Local Condobolin farmers, Fiona Aveyard and Natasha Peasley, said the RRT’s generous donation is reassuring the local community that people living in cities can see and hear them during their plight, and are wanting to help them.

“We never anticipated the drought could become as bad as this, so we greatly appreciate the substantial support we’re receiving from the RRT who are lending a hand during the big dry,” said Ms Peasley.

“We need all the assistance we can possibly receive during these desperate times for us, so this donation is a fantastic and much appreciated step in the right direction,” said Ms Aveyard.

Every day in some small way, RRT volunteers offer a helping hand to those in need. For more information about the Rapid Relief Team, go to https://www.rapidreliefteam.org/