Truckie with a heart of gold Kris Jennings delivers first round of hay to Quilpie

A Beaudesert truckie who successfully won his campaign to drop off hay to flood affected South West Queensland said he was almost brought to tears upon seeing the extent of the destruction.

Hero truckie Kris Jennings has officially made his first drop off of hay to flood affected Quilpie after blowing up on social media for his philanthropic nature and never say die attitude.

Mr Jennings became an overnight sensation after fighting to bring hay into the South West despite initially being shut down by the Department of Primary Industries, who said it wasn’t worth the risk to supply hay from within the Red Imported Fire Ant exclusion zone.

Kris Jennings plans to deliver hay to Quilpie

Less than 24 hours after the initial video racked up thousands of reactions and comments supporting the Beaudesert man, the government ultimately allowed him to deliver the hay.

Mr Jennings dropped more than 70 bales on Tuesday morning and said he was rushing back to pick up more from Saint George.

Kris Jennings dropped hay to Quilpie

The South West was thrashed by heavy rainfall last month with over 500mm falling in a matter of days and the flood impacting area reaching double the size of Victoria.

He said he was blown away by the level of destruction he’d witnessed in the region.

“I got in a plane this morning and got flown over a heap of country, then I went down to Thargomindah and saw the people down there and it is terrible,” he said.

“There’s a man down there who has lost everything and insurance companies won’t insure those towns because they know they go underwater.

“They are going into winter and there is hundreds of thousands of acres stripped bare and they have a long road ahead.

“It broke me, I’ve never seen anything like that in my life, I don’t know how they are getting upon in the morning but they are and they’re all coming together.

“When I walked around Thargomindah I wanted to cry, I felt like I was in a war zone.”

Kris Jennings said he couldn't believe the destruction

Mr Jennings said those on the ground in flood affected areas were grateful for the support.

“All the farmers are loving it, the plane dropped me into a few farms and they are all incredible, everyone is so appreciative and they say it is good to have a voice and stand up for what is right,” he said.

“The people that matter in all this are so appreciative, the Thargomindah people are incredible, the farmers in Quilpie, the people that matter just think it is the best thing.

“The people saying that it is isn’t needed or why is he here they don’t run a business and wouldn’t have an idea, we know there is help today but what about the help in three months time when the Australian Government is gone.

“There’s a couple of people in government positions that want to carry on whereas the rest of the world is grateful, everyone I’ve met in public has been amazing.

“Everyone shook my hand gave me a cuddle and said you’re what we need.”

Kris Jennings dropped almost 80 hay bales to flood affected farmers

Mr Jennings said the region would need ongoing support and urged people to help where they can.

“The hay is now starting to come in and there is 20,000 litres of fuel on its way right now,” he said.

“If you’ve got hay or chopper fuel in your shed that they can have donate it and that’s one less thing they have to worry about.

“These people have lost decades of livestock and millions of dollars in fencing, it’s heartbreaking.

“The little corner store in Thagamindua just got their groceries out to wash out the store and they just want people to buy from the local businesses to get the town back on its feet.”

Originally published as Truckie with a heart of gold Kris Jennings delivers first round of hay to Quilpie