A huge convoy of hay trucks brought a smile to fire-affected south-west farmers on Saturday.
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More than 40 trucks converged at the Camperdown saleyards for a convoy to Terang that showed the massive support from other farmers throughout Victoria.
Among the transport operators taking part were Rob and Karen Koning of Koning Transport at Rainbow on the edge of Mallee.
Mr Koning trucked down nearly 29 tonnes of quality vetch hay from the immediate past harvesting season donated by a Hopetoun farmer.
He said the farmer had a good season and had stored the hay inside a shed.
He said he and his wife had volunteered to truck the hay to the south-west because we had “the means and the time to donate.
“One day we might need this help,” Mr Koning said.
Karen Koning said they had received more offers of hay from other farmers around the Rainbow area but were unable to fit them on the truck.
She said she felt for the south-west farmers hit by the St Patrick’s Day blazes.
“One day you are going so well and then all of a sudden it’s ripped out from under you.
“They have had a hard time,” Mrs Koning said.
One of the coordinators of the fodder drive, Lauren Petersen from the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria, said more than 130 south-west farmers had registered to receive fodder donations.
She expected every one of them would receive a fodder delivery this weekend to help them feed their livestock after their paddocks were burnt out.
Ms Petersen said the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), of which the UDV is part, had received numerous offers of fodder in response to its appeal for feed.
Much of the donated fodder in Saturday’s convoy was organised through the “Need for Feed” disaster relief group which is a Lions Club project.
Fire-affected farmers in need of fodder, and people wishing to donate fodder, should contact the VFF on 1300 882 833.
Lions District 201 governor Trevor Hirth said Lions clubs were also supporting the Blaze Aid volunteers who were rebuilding burnt fences on south-west farms.
Blaze Aid has established camps at Terang, Cobden and Macarthur which will operate as bases for its volunteers.
Mr Hirth said Lions members will provide many of the meals for volunteers.
Also doing their bit were Trish Parker and Linda Justin from the Animal Rescues Appeal group who gave the convoy dog and cat food to give to farmers who might come across stray dogs and cats that fled the fires.