NEARLY 500 tonnes of donated hay has made its way for the charred paddocks of the Central West in the wake of an out-of-control bushfire.
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Dozens of local farmers and 20 trucks left Tamworth on Thursday morning with a haul of fodder for those who lost property and stock when the Sir Ivan fire tore through 55,000 hectares of land a fortnight ago.
The fire left little in its wake across the Dunedoo, Leadville, Turill, Cassilis and Coolah districts, as it destroyed at least 30 homes and 104 outbuildings on February 11 and 12.
As a plume of smoke hung heavy in the air across the North West in the days following, local producers sprung unto action.
Goonoo Red Angus stud producer Graeme Jordan approached Tamworth-based business Hazells Farm and Feed wanting to donate a truckload of hay to feed surviving stock left with nothing to graze on.
Hazells then put a call out via its Facebook page for local farmers to follow suit and donate fodder.
The overwhelming response saw almost 500 tonnes of hay leave a Loomberah property in convoy on Thursday.
“It’s just people helping out other people in need,” Hazells owner, Rod Hazell, said.
“Knowing the people of this region, (the response) doesn’t surprise me.”
Paul Tongue, “Myola”, Loomberah, said the fodder drive showcased the tight-knit farming community across the country.
“Rod gave me a call and said, people are donating hay, so I offered them a truck straight away,” Mr Tongue said.
“The response has been unreal.
“We all smelt that smoke last Sunday.
“It just makes you feel for the people it hit.”
An estimated 5056 animals were killed in the fire, which took crews from Fire & Rescue and the Rural Fire Service, as well as an army of volunteers, two days to contain.
Insurance claims so far for the Central West and other NSW bushfires have totalled $28.5 million.
Victims of the catastrophic fires now face the daunting task of re-building.
But donations from across thee state are helping to provide support where needed.
Mr Hazell said local fodder donations were still being welcomed, with another convoy of trucks expected to deliver more hay and feed in the coming weeks.