Support is building for truck drivers from Canberra and Queanbeyan who plan to deliver at least 5000 bales of hay to drought-stricken farmers in central NSW's Warrumbungle Shire.
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A convoy co-ordinator Barrie Cole said the trucks would be loaded with 25-kilogram bales in the Riverina and central west on the weekend of May 2 and be delivered the next day to the town of Baradine, one of the worst-hit areas in the shire.
Word of the fodder drive has spread and transport companies are not the only ones responding.
Kay Teague quickly raised $130 among fellow staff at Alzheimer's Australia's ACT office to buy stock feed, which could also include bales.
''I come from Queanbeyan and heard about it on the community radio station,'' Ms Teague said.
A man with two trucks who regularly delivers new furniture from Sydney brought 100 bales and donated $1000.
Mr Cole, a director of the Transport Industries Skills Centre at Queanbeyan, said the centre would provide a B-double truck and another truck and dog trailer.
He said Abletts Transport of Queanbeyan had made several flat-top trailers available.
Mr Cole decided to act after hearing farmers in the Coonabarabran and Pilliga areas had become suicidal
''People thinking they had let the family down type of thing,'' he said.
Since bushfires destroyed 54,000 hectares near Coonabarabran and 53 families lost their homes last year, drought has prolonged people's hardship.
Warrumbungle Shire mayor and farmer Peter Shinton said people were hand-feeding sheep and cattle and shooting some stock.
''We have some of the best growing country on the Liverpool Plains,'' Mr Shinton said. ''I was out in that area on Sunday and it's as bare as I have ever seen it. They are not getting any rain at all.
''Some people have not had run-off rain for two years. They have empty dams for the first time. Drought out our way is usually a feed crisis, this time it is water and feed.''
The Transport Industries Skills Centre, which trains drivers of all vehicles, is sourcing quality fodder for $10 a bale, a discount that enables more feed to be bought.
''The Department of Agriculture assures me the need will still be there [in May].'' Mr Cole said. ''This takes a bit to put together.''
He hopes the owners and drivers of more trucks, rigid flat tops or prime movers sign up. People who can help with administration are also needed, as well as more donations.
