A Port Stephens contingent has rallied behind the 'Caring for our Farmers' initiative, helping to distribute half a million litres of water last weekend to some of the harshest drought-affected farms in the state's west.
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Truck contractors Brett Ritter, from Tomago's FBT Transwest, Medowie's Craig Gray and John Westbury, from Raymond Terrace, joined with Salt Ash water carter Simon Hull as part of a convoy of some 40 rigs that set out last Saturday morning (December 14) to hand out bottled water for drinking and top up farmers' empty dams and water tanks.
The brainchild of Tahmoor resident Michael Williams, the massive effort had its origins two months ago after a comment he heard on Fox TV of how many drought-affected farmers in NSW were "faced with trying to decide between food and water for their farm or food and water for their families".
"A call went out for heavy vehicles, drivers and fuel so we can take the needed resources to those in more remote areas and it was great to see the response from truck drivers and companies, particularly those in Port Stephens," Mr Williams said.
Mr Ritter, who acknowledged the generosity of both FBT and Hills Truckwash, said that the three Port trucks were filled with 26,000 litres of water, donated by Mr Hull, before the trio joined approximately 40 other rigs of all shapes and sizes early Saturday morning for the expedition out west.
"Our first stop was Murrurundi where 40 pallets of bottled drinking water was unloaded. The convoy then moved on to Coonabarabran and the surrounding farm lands. My load went to an 80 year-old farmer 25km east of Connabarabran who cried as we left the property.
"At another farmer's property we were able to fill their water trough allowing the kids to splash around for the first time in who knows how long. The farmers were so grateful but in reality our contribution made only a small difference."
Mr Ritter said that many of the truck drivers stayed overnight in motels "to put money in the towns which are suffering" before returning home in time to go back to work on Monday.
A humble Mr Hull said that donating the water, worth around $400, was the least he could do for struggling farmers. "I didn't hesitate [to dontate] once I heard about the drive ... to stop making money for a minute and help our farmers".
Mr Williams has hinted at more fundraising efforts in the future through 'Caring for our Farmers', a not for profit organisation, which he hoped could be adopted by Port Stephens businesses.
