Truck with donated hay for Grafton farmers set on fire at Espana Motel

A family owned business and their truck driver are still in shock after their Need for Feed hay delivery for Grafton farmers was set alight risking not only the hay but the driver’s life.

Donating hay across the country is a regular thing for married couple and business partners Robyn and Terry Connan but it’s the first time they’ve ever had donated goods set alight.

The trucking family and their driver are still reeling after a truck driven 1600 kilometres with donated hay for cattle feed in Grafton was set on fire outside the Espana Motel, South Grafton at approximately 1.30am on April 11.

Robyn Coonan, owner of GV Crane Trucks, said her driver, who had been asleep in the truck at the time, got the shock of his life.

“Our driver said ‘It’s attempted murder’,” Mrs Coonan said

He was so rattled he was unable to get back to sleep till hours later.

Their two trucks loaded with 13 large squares of hay and 30 large rounds of hay each were driven 1600 kilometres from Numurkah, Victoria destined for drop off at Grafton Jail.

Mrs Coonan expected the area outside the Schwinghammer St motel to be safe as there were plenty of other trucks and a lot of lighting.

“You think you’d be safe there.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Mrs Coonan said.

The load was saved thanks to the fast work of the firemen in attendance.

Six police and four firemen attended the scene putting out the fire and saving the load from destruction.