AS a truck driver, Brendan Farrell gets a pretty good idea of what’s going on around the countryside.
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And he knows from personal experience that most people are quick to help out when others are in trouble.
That’s why he wants the Border region to help drought-affected farmers up north.
The Griffith truckie is organising a 17-semi-trailer convoy to help out farmers struggling in the Bourke area.
And he wants the Border to donate hay and fuel for the 11-hour trip.
“They are really struggling up there and nobody really knows that,” he said yesterday.
“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 on 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.
Alternatively, you can visit the team's Facebook page to spread the word and help his campaign reach more people.