Sam Guest with Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich and her husband Darren Starevich. Photo: Farmers Across Borders.
Esperance based charity Farmers Across Borders successfully completed another large-scale operation, delivering much needed hay to drought-stricken South Australian farmers.
Several of Esperance’s farming families were involved in the planning, with some joining other volunteers to drive the sheep and cattle food across the Nullarbor.
Farmers Across Borders president Samantha Starcevich said the donated hay and simultaneous rainfall would bring a welcome reprieve for the SA farmers doing it tough.
“We talked to a few farmers yesterday so they were extremely grateful and I mean we’ve taken rain with us so that just eases the pressure as well,” she said.
Snapshots of the large-scale operation to deliver hay to farmers in need. Photos: Farmers Across Borders.
“There’s actually been some good falls of rain in some areas but we all know as farmers that one decent rain doesn’t end a drought, so you still need some follow up stuff.
“Hopefully it’s the beginning for them with a bit of rain and a bit of hay and will make things easier.”
Mrs Starcevich said Farmers Across Borders was inspired to do the hay run after the SA government eased its biosecurity rules.
The convoy of 86 trucks carried more than 6,000 bales of hay, which she said was mostly sourced outside Esperance.
“We couldn’t actually get any hay out of the Esperance zone because it’s part of the green snails [pest] zone but we did have some of our barley straw go over to fill trucks,” Mrs Starcevich said.
“We had three loads of Farmers Across Borders barley straw which is bailed in Esperance and then the rest of the hay was bought in donated funds by ‘Need for Feed’.
“They fundraised and then they were able to purchase hay out of WA.”
She said it was a wet and wild drive into SA but said the hay was still in good condition and would most likely have been fed out to the starving livestock soon after it was offloaded on Sunday.
There was rain and winds on the Nullarbor coming over so we had to postpone leaving Fraser Range by about 3.5 – 4 hours — it had gusts up to 100km an hour so we let that pass and followed in behind.
“It might have made [the hay] a bit heavy and it might have soaked up a bit of water but it’ll be fine.
“I think we had about five flat tyres and a gearbox seal so for having 86 trucks it was pretty minimal breakdowns really; it was pretty good.”
As a Salmon Gums farmer, Mrs Starcevich said the operation was about helping fellow farmers and the rest of the country by sustaining the food industry.
“I think if Australia wants safe and secure food they need to step up and stand behind our farmers,” she said.
“[Some] groups that have no idea how farming works, they still want food but they don’t seem to appreciate where it comes from.
“I thought it was a pretty important thing that the farmers and truck drivers and just general community members get together to support people in need that are suffering and doing it hard.”
Mrs Starcevich said they received a “fantastic” response from around the country with volunteers, sponsors and the government stepping up to help.
She said Esperance contributed considerably too.
“Esperance businesses support us in whichever way they can and we are always really grateful for it,” Mrs Starcevich said.
The trucks and volunteers left Fraser Range Station on Friday and in a quick turnaround, made the journey back to WA on Monday.
