Always welcomed but never wanted, hay runs have become a symbol across Australia of tougher times. After suffering a major blaze to finish off 2023, word that Aussie Hay Runners (AHR) will arrive in Walgett on 3 February is very welcome.

The hay run will see 27 trucks loaded with 864 bales of premium hay, after donations came from across Victoria to assist farmers having a tough summer season. 

Less than a month into 2024, it will be the charity’s 3rd delivery of the year, and 22nd overall. 

“It’s not a hand out - it’s a hand up,” Aussie Hay Runners charity founder Linda Widdup said. 

Next week will mark the charity’s first run to Walgett, having already visited the Upper Hunter and Clarence Valley. 

The support comes after the Narran Lakes fire emergency, which burned more than 19,000 hectares and saw people evacuated and homes destroyed. 

While the hay run is a response to that devastation, it’s also assisting people on the ground following a lacklustre harvest in the area. 

Hay being delivered in fire affected Inverell in 2023. (Supplied)

The 27 trucks on the run will travel a total of 60,100 kilometres combined, with hay vaping $82,080 to assist farmers, their families, and the community. 

Between dry periods and fires, 2023 saw over a million kilometres travelled between 520 trucks to donate hay. 

“There are other areas in desperate need of help and our logistics team are working hard planning and scheduling,” Lnda Widdup said. 

Trucks will travel to their meetup point of West Wyalong on Thursday 1st February, Friday morning the convoy will set off via The Newell Highway travelling through Parkes, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Gulargambone and Coonamble, arriving into Walgett by late afternoon.

Saturday will be spent doing farm drops before the trucks start their way back to Victoria.