Jeep Helps Farmers Across Borders.
Jeep Australia is supporting Farmers Across Borders right now, leading a convoy of road trains from Esperance to Meekatharra to deliver much needed hay to drought-affected farmers.
Twenty road trains loaded with donated fodder departed from the Esperance Shire recently and made an overnight pit-stop in Leonora before reaching their destination, Meekatharra, on Australia Day.
“We’re excited to be delivering fodder to farmers in Meekatharra and surrounding towns this Australia Day,” said Ms Sam Starcevich, co-founder of Farmers Across Borders.
“West Australian farmers continue to face some of the most challenging conditions we’ve ever seen, and our support is needed now more than ever before.”
Jeep Australia will once again fuel the volunteers throughout their journey, providing breakfast and dinner over the 1000 kilometres travelled. Jeep will also provide a fleet of Jeep support vehicles for the Farmers Across Borders team to travel in, as they did for the 2019 run.
“Farmers Across Borders is an incredible cause and Jeep Australia is proud to support the team’s efforts as they give back to the Aussie farmers who so desperately need our help,” said Managing Director and CEO of Jeep Australia, Kevin Flynn.
On average, a road train will need approximately $10,000 of fuel to make the trip, and Farmers Across Borders still need help to fund fuel costs. To donate or find out more information about Farmers Across Borders, please visit the Jeep “Farmers Across Borders” website.
These complement the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners drive at the same time, with 200 trucks full of hay and straw heading to the Armidale region in NSW. Around 10 trucks left Horsham in Victoria on the Thursday morning before the Australia Day weekend, meeting with another convoy of about 30 trucks at St Arnaud, also in the Wimmera, before going onto Burrumbuttock in the NSW Riverina.
Most of the hay will be headed for Armidale, while some will go to farmers affected by bushfires. Mr Sam McGennisken, who had allocated part of his farm as a staging area for the trucks, said he was looking forward to meeting NSW farmers. “It’s just what the farming community is all about; we are more than happy to help out,” he said. “This hay will go straight to the farms and to feeding stock.”
Farmers Across Borders itself is a not-for-profit organisation started by two farmers in Western Australia. Farmers Across Borders help drought affected farmers by delivering donated hay from Western Australia to areas in New South Wales. Farmers Across Borders work with Lions – Need for Feed to provide hay and gather financial donations to facilitate the journey. To read more about Farmers Across Borders and how you can support visit the Farmers Across Borders website
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