A GRIFFITH truckie is appealing to Border farmers to help their counterparts up north.
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Brendan Farrell is organising a 17-semi-trailer convoy to help out farmers struggling in the Bourke area.
He hopes Border farmers and businesses will donate hay and fuel for the 11-hour trip.
“They are really struggling up there and nobody really knows that,” Mr Farrell said.
“Hay will help farmers tremendously.
“They are buying it at the moment but they are quickly running out of money.”
Mr Farrell has 700 squares and 70 rolls of donated hay stored at Burrumbuttock and Walbundrie.
“It’s enough to help 30 farmers but I want to help 400, or just as many as I can,” he said.
Mr Farrell’s drive to help has been fuelled by offers of help he had received during tough times for his family.
His wife, Shannon, has a brain tumour, that requires treatment in Sydney.
“The moral support of strangers on Facebook, comments like ‘give us a call if we can help’, have been great, so I just want to put my hand up to help others,” he said.
The birth of their daughter two weeks ago has also inspired him to improve lives.
“You see young guys having a crack or a fourth-generation farmer struggling and thinking about suicide,” he said.
“If I can help one farmer, I’ve done my bit.”
The convoy will leave next Friday, February 7.
“It’s not a political stunt or a business opportunity; it’s just me trying to help people,” Mr Farrell said.
“People really need to be aware of the situation and the more people who can help, the more we can do.”
There are donation tins at the Culcairn Butchery, Walla post office and Burrumbuttock and Walbundrie pubs for those wishing to donate money.
Mr Farrell said anybody who could donate fuel vouchers or hay should phone him on 0467 808 229 or Brad Schulz on 0428 293 229.