Brendan Farrell is loading his hay sleigh with toys for a goodwill mission to outback NSW on Sunday, August 30.
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The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners founder will swap his usual bales of hope for Lego, Barbies, school supplies and sporting equipment as part of a week-long trip to lift the spirits of country kids.
Together with long-time hay runner Brett Lieschke and a "big unit" who goes by the name of "Shrek" in BHR circles, "Bumpa" will visit schools and community halls at Louth, Tilpa, White Cliffs, Packsaddle and Tibooburra.
Mr Farrell said he was looking forward to putting some smiles on kids' faces and catching up with people from communities he hadn't visited since 2015.
The shed at his Burrumbuttock property has been steadily filling with donated toys thanks particularly to the efforts of Big W at Lavington.
"Coronavirus is playing havoc at the moment - and every single news crew is on top of that - but we've got to remember there are a lot of other people doing it tough," Mr Farrell said in a video posted to Facebook this week.
Speaking to The Border Mail, he said it was important to show people still living in drought or in the aftermath of fires that people still cared.
"The drought hasn't gone away; there are still people from the fires living in tents," Mr Farrell said.
"A lot of people are in financial trouble; they've bought in feed for the last seven years and it's put them in debt something fierce.
"Some of these areas have had some rain, some are green and lush, some are average and some are below average."
Mr Farrell admitted he was looking forward to getting back out in the dust, flies and heat and connecting with outback folk again.
"They are a great bunch of people all the way through there - I'm looking forward to kicking a footy with the kids and talking to their parents to see how they are getting on mentally," he said.
The hay runners tandem trailer will be loaded with an assortment of sports gear, pencils, school bags, drink bottles, colouring-in books and toys including board games the whole family could enjoy.
As for Mr Farrell, he's looking forward to a catch-up, a few beers and "200 tonnes of Big Shrek's beef jerky".
