Our country cousins are on a mission to help those doing it tough in lockdown

Farmer Robert Mackenzie has delivered a truckload of hope — along with 300kg of black angus beef mince — to a locked-down Sydney community.

In recent times of drought and flood, city slickers have dug deep to support their country cousins — and now the bush folk are returning the favour.

Regional residents such as fourth-generation cattle farmer Robert Mackenzie are ensuring communities in Sydney’s Covid hot pots are being fed with quality meat.

Farmers Robert Mackenzie, Ross Edwards and James Mackenzie from Woko Station, Gloucester are sending support to locked-down Sydneysiders. Picture: Supplied

Working with the Thankful4Farmers initiative and Cumberland City Council, Mr Mackenzie, who hails from the NSW mid north coast, ­delivered 300kg of verified premium black angus beef mince to one of Western Sydney’s hardest hit suburbs.

“Hearing and seeing what was going on in the news and understanding how bad it ­really was made our family think about what we can do,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“Our family reached out to Meat and Livestock Australia and the person I spoke to there lived in the Cumberland area and put us in touch with a Ccuncillor there.

“When I explained what we wanted to do, the council really grabbed this with both hands, opening up community kitchens and (finding) volunteers to make this happen.

“With the meat, the ­council made shepherd’s pie, lasagne and handed out mince packs that the people could cook themselves.”

James and Robert Mackenzie said they have been inundated with calls from grateful community members. Picture: Supplied

After the first rollout of meals on Wednesday, Mr Mackenzie, who runs about 3500 head of cattle over 6000ha, said he was inun­dated with calls from community members in Sydney who ate their “first proper meal in weeks”.

“I had a phone call from a lady who was nearly in tears, first asking was the meat halal certified and we made sure it was because we know who the product was feeding,” the farmer said.

“She told me she’s got a family of five and this was the first real meal she has had in four weeks and she was so grateful. We’re not just giving food but we’re giving hope and letting the people of Sydney know that they’re not in this alone.”

Rob Mackenzie believes its farmers’ turn to give back to Sydneysiders. Picture: Supplied

Mr Mackenzie said this time “farmers are in a position where they can help and it was our turn to give back”.

“We thought back to every time we had been in strife with fire, flood and drought that the city always digs deep and helps and now the shoe’s on the other foot,’’ he said.

“For us to give back to the city it makes us feel really blessed to be in a position that we are able to do that.’’

Cumerland Councillor Joseph Rahme said this initiative has had “an enormous impact on the community”.

“The Cumberland council area has a strong representation from people from a low socio-economic background and it’s the most multicultural LGA in NSW,” Cr Rahme said.

“All those factors combined means doing something like this is of paramount importance.”

“We are working with other farmers and the Thankfuld4farmers organisation to roll out more meals in September.”