Burrumbuttock Hay Runners convoy to Winton, Queensland, postponed
A huge annual charity hay drive to help drought-affected farmers has been postponed in an emotional announcement explaining how coronavirus has taken its toll.
BURRUMBUTTOCK Hay Runners convoy to drought-stricken outback Queensland has been postponed.
Founder Brendan ‘Bumpa’ Farrell took to social media to share an emotional video announcing the 18th hay run, arriving at Winton, Queensland on Australia Day, would not be able to go ahead due to recent coronavirus outbreaks and border closures.
“It’s very hard because we’ve got trucks coming down from Rockhampton, Townsville, Dubbo, Griffith, Victoria, South Australia – they’re all to come over different borders and there’s border check points all over the place,” Mr Farrell said.
“We don’t want to spread this (coronavirus) in the outback of Queensland and NSW.
“I love those communities, there’s great people among them and I don’t want to jeopardise that.”
Mr Farrell hopes to postpone the hay run until July, depending on the coronavirus situation.
143 trucks were already registered to go on the convoy this month, with registrations still coming in until the decision was made to postpone late last week.
Mr Farrell told The Weekly Times he had spoken to many of the truck drivers since who also felt it was the right decision but were feeling “a bit lost” being unable to take part in the annual event that fostered friendships between farmers across the country.
“There’s nothing better than helping someone you don’t know for one weekend a year,” he said.
“Straw and oaten hay is best present any grazier could have up there.”
Mr Farrell explained that while some areas at Winton had received some rain, the drought was not over and farmers were still in a lot of financial trouble.
Burrumbuttock Hay Runners had planned to deliver hay in a 120km radius of Winton.
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