West Australian farmers launch relief convoy for drought-stricken South Australia

Australia Broadcast Center

3 days ago

It has been dubbed the "convoy of compassion".
Eighty-five trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw, have begun the trek across the Nullarbor, headed to drought-stricken parts of South Australia.
The massive logistical exercise is a project between charities Farmers Across Borders and Need for Feed, with support from the South Australian government.
The fodder has been sent to support 400 farming businesses and feed 450,000 head of stock.
The trucks have been loaded across Western Australia's agricultural heartland over the past seven days.
At Kulin, 300 kilometres east of Perth, farmer Michael Lucchesi said the 1,000 bales coming from his property were good quality.
"It's export quality. It was some of the first stuff we bailed last year and we got a bit more than what we needed," he said.
"We got a phone call and it was available and I thought, 'Well, might as well give it to someone that needs it.'"
It was the first time Mr Lucchesi had been involved in a hay run but he said it was something close to his heart.
"We've been there, probably 15 years ago," he said.
Co-ordinating more than 80 trucks, obtaining permits across two states, and ensuring the convoy could travel along one of Australia's major national highways without disruption has been a feat of organisation by truck driver Peter Warburton.
While it had been trying at times, Mr Warburton said knowing the difference the fodder would make on the ground made it worthwhile.
"Logistically, we've been probably five weeks in doing this," he said.
"I did the main roads permits here in West Australia and then permits in SA.
Rob Gill, from Narembeen, has also donated his time to drive a truck in the convoy.
He said keeping everyone on the road safe was a top priority.
"Going over there's up to 90 trucks," he said.
"They'll put them in groups of 20 or 21, thereabouts, so there's not 80 or 90 trucks all in one [group]," he said.
"[The safety considerations are] especially for people with cars when they're trying to pass."
The charities involved have also reached out on social media to other groups of road users to alert them of the convoy and instruct them of the signage and communication plans they have in place to ensure road safety.
The convoy is a financial feat as well — with trucks to run, fuel to pay for, mouths to feed, and accommodation to book.
Justin Williams has taken time off work to be involved.
"I thought I'd just get a little gap to come help out," he said.
"The first few times I missed it, but this time around I got a chance so I thought I'd jump on it, just be a part of it."
Fellow volunteer Michael Young said seeing the impact of the drought firsthand made him keen to help.
"A friend of mine that's been on the run a couple of times rang me and I said, 'We're straight in,'" he said.
"It will be just nice to help out and do our little bit for our fellow farmers."
Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said she had lost count of how many hay runs she had done since becoming involved in 2014.
She said the convoy was her third trip "across the paddock" to do a hay run over the Western Australian border.
Recently relaxed biosecurity laws in South Australia have enabled other states, including Western Australia, to export hay from green snail-free areas.
"It's well and truly over half-a-million-dollars worth of hay, and then the fuel is probably three times, four times that amount," Ms Starcevich said.
The impressive trip has been met with one further hurdle at the last stop in Fraser Range before making the journey across the border.
Damaging winds reached 100 kilometres per hour as a storm rolled across southern parts of the state, delaying the convoy's plan to leave in the early hours of Friday.
Nonetheless, Ms Starcevich hoped they would be able to get to farmers by Sunday.
"It's crazy weather isn't it," she said.
Despite the massive undertaking, Need for Feed chairman Graham Cockerell said the convoy still would not meet all requests for assistance the organisation had received.
The charity had been sourcing hay from across the country, going as far as northern New South Wales to provide relief to the most drought-stricken parts of South Australia.
"We've got about 450 [requests], and this will get to about 300," he said.
"We know people who have de-stocked to a large extent, and they're pretty desperate trying to hang onto their breeding stock.