A Wodonga TAFE teacher will drive more than 4000 kilometres this week to deliver hay and feed to fire affected farmers in northern NSW.
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TAFE staff members banded together after hearing of the plight of Chiltern man Bruce Hughan on the radio.
He was calling for donations of any sort to support farmers to keep their animals alive which have been impacted by the ongoing fires.
The result of their brainstorm was transport teacher Alex Stojanovic putting his hand up to driving a truckload of 30 large round hay bales and four pallets of feed from Byawatha, near Wangaratta to Walcha, NSW to help struggling farmers.
He did the first trip on Monday and will take another load up tomorrow.
The TAFE jumped on board the Fire Feed Fund campaign started by Mr Hughan and called on their specialty driver education centre, DECA, to see what they could donate to help get much-needed feed up north.
DECA national manager of transport Simon Macaulay said the best way they could help would be to lend a prime mover and a low loader trailer to help move the donated feed.
And Mr Stojanovic drove the feed directly to those in need on Monday, arriving late in the evening and will arrive there again on Wednesday after a "much needed rest".
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He drove from the Logic Centre in Barnawartha, to Byawatha to Walcha - which is more than 1000 kilometres one way.
"It's great to give back to NSW communities as they assisted us in Victoria back during the devastating Black Saturday fires," Mr Macaulay said.
"Wodonga TAFE has ties with many farmers, particularly in our agriculture and horticulture department.
"And some of our teachers are also farmers and have students who are farmers also.
"This makes the cause even more meaningful to us, as we are really reaching out and helping our friends who helped us."
These supplies will help farmers to be able to continue feeding their animals and keeping them alive during this bleak time.
The trip is almost 11 hours and around 970 kilometres each way.
Walcha is inland of Port Macquarie and is just east of Tamworth.
Mr Hughan has also started a GoFundMe page for those members of the community who would like to jump on board and help pay for expenses such as feed, hay and petrol.
It has raised more than $600 so far with a goal of $50,000.
Any other offers of support are also welcome. Contact the GoFundMe organisers.
