Sunday Telegraph readers dig deep and get real drought help to where it’s needed

LAST Sunday, farmer Les Jones was wondering where he was going to bury 1200 ­starving sheep. Yesterday he was planning to store all the hay that had arrived at his farmhouse — paid for by Sunday Telegraph readers.

LAST Sunday farmer Les Jones was out on his barren paddocks, wondering where he was going to bury 1200 ­starving sheep.

Yesterday Mr Jones was wondering where he was going to store all the hay that had arrived in front of his farmhouse on a semi-trailer — paid for by Sunday Telegraph readers and transported by a farmers charity.

In the kitchen, Les’s wife Laura was wondering where she was going to put all the groceries. They’d ­arrived, totally unexpected, earlier yesterday in the back of a car driven by a woman who just wanted to be known as Trish.

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Trish had seen The Sunday Telegraph report last week of how the Joneses, from Goolhi, west of Tamworth, would have to shoot all 1200 of their merino sheep and lambs because they couldn’t afford to feed them.

Trish and her friends bought a week’s worth of groceries and she drove the five-and-a-half hours from her Blue Mountains home to deliver them.

Trish said she just “wanted to help”.

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Donations from Sunday Telegraph readers to charities Aussie Helpers, Need For Feed and Rural Aid have been enough to save the whole mob of the Joneses’ sheep.

“It’s hard to come to terms with the overwhelming generosity of complete and utter strangers who’ve seen our plight and donated,” Mrs Jones said.

“Donations have been streaming in all week, I’m just speechless.”

Yesterday afternoon charity Need For Feed showed up with the semi-trailer carrying 60 hay bales from Victoria, which the Joneses will share with their six closest neighbours. Behind the wheel was Victorian volunteer farmer Adam Meek, 32, and his son Deklan.

Hay bales from Victoria arrive at the Joneses farm in Goolhi in NSW. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It’s human nature to help a mate and these poor buggers just can’t catch a break,” Mr Meek said.

“I’ve lost count of how many farmers I’ve delivered hay to and their reaction when we pull up makes it all worthwhile.”

Between last Sunday and Wednesday Need For Feed was donated $109,000, according to founder Graham Cockerell.

Laura Jones hugs Adam Meek, a Need for Feed volunteer who drove the hay with his son Deklan. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Les Jones and daughter Lillie celebrate. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

One of the cheekier residents has the right idea. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

All last week farmers arrived at the Joneses’ property with chainsaws and log splitters to cut and pack away firewood; local mining companies and water carters dropped off drinking and dam water, and their daughter Lillie Jones, 15, has even been offered a chance at modelling.

“A modelling agency from Sydney saw the pictures of my beautiful girl in The Sunday Telegraph and has offered to take professional photos of her for a potential modelling contract,” Mrs Jones said.

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More than $250,000 has been ­donated to Australia’s largest farming charity Aussie Helpers since the Joneses’ story was revealed, much of which has come in $20 and $30 ­increments.

Aussie Helpers founder Brian Egan has been personally helping the Joneses and their neighbours for months, with feed, groceries and fuel vouchers.

Lillie Jones contemplates the future on the family property at Goolhi with the remaining sheep in their flock. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Seven days ago, Les Jones was contemplating having to kill hundreds of his flock — until help arrived. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Since The Sunday Telegraph’s article about the Joneses we’ve raised more than a quarter of a million dollars and we’re still getting pledges arriving in the mail,” Mr Egan said.

Woolworths will today pledge $1.5 million to farming charity Rural Aid’s Buy A Bale campaign, which will mean hundreds more farmers will receive much-needed hay and counsellors.