MORE than 2000 hay bales rolled out of Bridgewater on Saturday morning bound for South Australian farms gripped by drought.
Trucks loaded with the round bales had come from across central Victoria to the staging point at the town’s recreation reserve on Friday.
Aussie Hay Runners co-ordinator Pete Wuthrich said the bales had been bound for Peterborough, three hours north of Adelaide, for the Australia Day weekend delivery.
“Bridgewater was a central staging area before we set off on the 10-hour plus drive to Peterborough.
“We’ve had trucks and hay come in from 100km around Bridgewater.”
Mr Wuthrich said more than 100 farmers in South Australia would receive hay deliveries to help them feed stock impacted by the prolonged drought.
“The paddocks over there ... there’s nothing on the ground,” he said.
Mr Wuthrich said the past two years had seen Aussie Hay Runners transporting donated wheat and oaten hay to New South Wales farmers hit by floods and fires.
“Now the deliveries are being made into South Australia - Peterborough Ceduna. We made a run before Christmas and we’re now heading back.,” he said.
Truck drivers in the convoy were given a cooked breakfast by Bridgewater Football Netball Club before setting off soon after 7am on Saturday. Local businesses donated the food.