Hay convoy rolls through

A CONVOY of trucks carrying hay and goods to be donated to fire-affected communities passed through the area over the weekend, with all donations having been raised from the generosity of south west Victorians.

Eddie White led the Convoy through Terang.

The convoy of truck drivers, all of whom were donating their time and trucks to deliver the donated goods, departed Allansford in the early hours of Saturday morning.

More than 50 trucks full to the brim of hay and various goods travelled along the Princes Highway to deliver their cargo to those impacted by the recent bushfires in the Alexandra region.

Organiser Eddie White said it was a moving experience to see the appreciation of those who were receiving support after bushfires ravaged the region.

“Everything went quite well,” he said.

“It was all a pretty moving experience to see so many people lining the roads and, down at Yea, seeing all the farmers there.

People lined the streets to show their appreciation for those giving their time to drive the donated hay to those impacted by fires in the Alexandra region.

“It was one of the best parts of it because we asked the farmers to come into the Yea saleyards to guide us out to their farms.

“You farmers all came up and to see how appreciative they were of what we were trying to do, for them to meet the drivers.”

Mr White said he could not get over the generosity south west Victorians showed, with more than just hay being transported to those in need.

“We took down so much – we had six or seven boxes from the Warrnambool Men’s Shed which went to the Yea Men’s Shed,” he said.

“We had goods donated to foundations, the Pony Club got 20-30 bales of hay and a lot of horse gear.

The convoy comprised around 50 trucks, with donations from across the south west.

“It was a wide range of items donated and it wasn’t only the farmers to receive stuff – there were people who got gloves, a bag of cat and dog food or a slab of water.”

Mr White said the appreciation of those on the receiving end of the donations was clear.

“It’s bloody moving to see what people from our end were willing to give,” he said.

“It’s even more moving to see it donated.

“What the farmers from down here who donated don’t get to see was the expressions on the faces of those who received the support.

“That was the best part of what we’ve done.

“The generosity of the farmers in the south west is just amazing, it’s phenomenal, and that’s just what it is – so the experience has been truly great.”