Community
11 September, 2025
Hay convoy arrives
RESIDENTS lined the streets to show their appreciation as Need for Feed Australia volunteers travelled to the region with enough hay to support 160 families doing it tough in drought conditions.
The convoy of trucks carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of hay descended on Saturday evening, travelling through Camperdown and Terang before stopping at the Noorat Recreation Reserve overnight.
Noorat served as a temporary centre for distributions for the convoy of 30 trucks which had brought down enough hay to help out more than 160 farming families across Corangamite, Moyne and Colac-Otway shires.
This marks the second time a Need for Feed convoy has made its way to the south west, after 33 trucks delivering close to $500,000 worth of hay made its way to Camperdown in July.
Need for Feed Australia chairman Graham Cockerell was among those behind the wheel, saying it was warming to again see a strong showing of support from residents who lined the streets.
“It’s really good to have the public’s support,” he said.
“It’s what keeps these things going.
“It takes weeks to be able to collect all that hay because it comes from all over the place.
“Almost all of it came out of New South Wales because there’s no hay in Victoria – certainly none to be donated, or even to buy.
“It’s come from as far away from Tamworth.
“This will be able to support around 160 families and they will each get a big bag of working dog food.”
Among those to welcome the arrival of the convoy was Moyne Shire Council mayor councillor Karen Foster.
She said the arrival of the convoy was a reminder the impact of the drought continues to linger despite recent rain but also showed a dedication to support those impacted.
“As I travel around the shire and speak to people, I am hearing there is such a sense of gratitude for these sorts of initiatives,” Cr Foster said.
“Other people are taking notice of the challenges on the ground.
“They know it’s been raining for a little while, that some may see the green and think it’s over, but we know it’s going to take a long time to recover from years of successive drought.
“Some farmers have a long way to go, some have accrued large amounts of debt to keep things going through this dry period, so I think it’s important to have the reminder it’s not over and there is still quite a way to go.”
Anyone wanting to support Need for Feed can do so online at www.needforfeed.org.