Holidaymakers deliver much-needed feed to Roma farmers

A group of tourists lent a helping hand while on their visit to Roma.

HELPING HAND: The touring group from Fun Over 50 at Saturday's hay run to Scattering Plains, near Roma. Picture: Grace Jamieson

SCATTERING Plains received something far better than chocolate eggs this Easter: a truck full of hay.

The golden gift was donated by travel company Fun Over 50, which makes regular trips to Roma for Easter in the Country, and the delivery was emotional for all involved.

"We were able to contribute a semi-trailer load of hay bales for local farmers, which was delivered to Scattering Plains on Saturday, and we were out at the property to meet everyone - it was kind of like a hand-over,” Fun Over 50 tour host Neil Bidner said.

"The hay was enough feed for the stock of about eight farming families, and also some of our guests donated gift cards for local farmers to use at the local supermarkets and petrol stations.

"There were tears shed on the morning when we were there, it was quite moving to meet them, and see what they are going through.

"We were able to see the cows and the property itself, and it gave us all a really big insight into what is going on out here.”

The tourists were part of an initiative by Fun Over 50, in which they aim to give back to communities they visit on their travels.

"This was the inaugural Helping Hand Holiday, which is focussed on having positive economic and social impacts in the communities we visit,” Mr Bidner said.

"It is a new project we are doing as Fun Over 50, and we will be doing many more of them, but this one was our first.”

"The tour itself was for Easter in the Country, and we were also here to lend a hand to local farmers in Roma while we were here.”