It took one phone call to a neighbour and within hours Walla farmer Jason Schilg had 1500 acres of stubble available to make hay for fire-affected farmers in the Upper Murray.
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Once word got around, locals were quick to offer paddocks, machinery and labour free of charge to cut what was left off their own drought-stricken properties.
Farmers began wind-rowing and baling wheat and barley stubble on Monday with Mr Schilg hoping to get 2000 big square bales to deliver to Corryong and Jingellic in the next week. It will be distributed by Towong Shire.
An emotional phone call from a woman who had been burnt out and was desperate for hay to keep stock alive prompted Mr Schilg to think beyond a one-off donation.
"I could only give her one semi-load because we are feeding our stock," he said.
"She was very appreciative and teary and when I got off the phone I thought I need to do more than this.
"One of my neighbours had reasonable stubble so I rang him and also asked if he knew of anyone else - after that the calls kept coming in."
LATEST BUSHFIRE COVERAGE:
Mr Schilg phoned friend and Walla farmer Danny Phegan who was only too happy to lend his voice to the logistics of organising fuel donations.
The high-profile music man is "working behind the scenes" to keep the diesel up to tractors and trucks, already collecting nearly $14,000 in donations.
"I made a few calls to friends and family and Lieschke Motors at Walla donated a bowser, diesel and a fuel card so all the money raised goes into a separate account," Mr Phegan said.
"There are so many great causes and everybody is doing their best to help because these bushfires are such a huge catastrophe.
"The kids and I were taking pallets of water into the fire stations but we were looking for the right 'fit' to do our bit.
"I think helping our fellow farmers in the Upper Murray is what we can do and if any businesses in towns want to help, give me a call."
Mr Schilg said he was overwhelmed by the community spirit and generosity of people willing to help.
"(The bushfires) are just up the road - it's a bloody big disaster and we get smoke here every day as a reminder," he said.
"It's bad enough being in drought but then to be burnt out ... and there's a lot of summer to go.
"What we are doing is only a drop in the ocean and there are a lot of people doing so much more; affected farmers will need support with fodder for at least the next six months."
- Mr Schilg is still looking for stubble or donations of hay (contact him on 0427 004 674) while Mr Phegan is co-ordinating fuel donations (0417 248 582).
