But I've yet to see him this close to forlorn.

The normally bold and brash founder of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners was pretty flat on Wednesday.

Even his normally impassioned Facebook post hinted at the strain of an enormous, often thankless and all too politically explosive endeavour.  

He was resolutely preparing to turn around and send another convoy of about 80 trucks on a "no-frills" hay run to help stricken farmers in north-west Queensland.

The region, still heavily in drought, was hit by catastrophic floods that have wiped out an estimated 500,000 cattle, other livestock and native wildlife as well as homes and infrastructure.

It's a scale of devastation that extends across an area the size of France.

The plight of these people and their animals cannot be ignored; it's near impossible not to weep at the horrifying images of dead animals piled up in rotting mounds - the same animals that had grimly survived seven years of drought but couldn't withstand the onslaught of a ferocious monsoonal Mother Nature.

For the loyal band of Burrumbuttock hay runners, not turning a blind eye means embarking on a 6000-kilometre round trip less than three weeks after their gruelling run to Quilpie.

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It's time, it's a heck of a lot of money and it's intensive wear and tear on expensive, heavy machinery in impossible environmental conditions.

And it's ALL voluntary.

"You can tell everyone out there Brendan Farrell is f***ing broke," Bumpa said as he implored Aussies to donate money for fuel to the Rotary Club of Sydney to get hay north again this week.

"I can't tell you much more Jodie except that whether it's drought, fire or flood, we want to get this hay to farmers who need it - without the political bulls**t."

Standing behind him is an ever-ready, ever-generous crew of drivers who loaded up again on Thursday  - many will make up the difference in fuel costs from their own bank accounts.

Brendan will be operating "on advice" from Ag Force, the peak body for the Queensland cattle industry, but it is understood fodder will need to be choppered in from designated drop-off points near Cloncurry.

These runners will drive as far as they can to where help is needed most.

Long-time hay runner Tony Furze, 70, from Albury, didn't hesitate to put up his hand once again to get behind the wheel of the B-double donated by Walkers Transport.

"Those poor buggers up there are copping it so bad they need any help they can get," Mr Furze said.

"Anyone who has seen the photos can see the utter devastation - you just can't turn away.

"I'd love to think we wouldn't need to do a hay run next year but … well, it's not likely is it?"