Malcolm Causley and John Lamb are hoping to deliver ten large square bales of hay worth around $1200 to the drought stricken farmers of Maybole Road on the Northern Tablelands this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The generous donation to the Maybole Road Drought Relief Project was made by local businessman and farmer, Peter Crawford.
They plan on leaving this Saturday morning and if the men can source more hay John said he can make two trucks available to transport it.
Mr Lamb said sourcing the square bales of hay which are easier for the farmers to handle rather than large round ones has proved difficult.
“I just rang Peter to ask him if he hand any and if so we would like to buy it,” he said.
“But as soon as I said who I was Peter jumped in with the offer, after reading about what we were doing in The Argus.”
It was absolutely fantastic, he said.
Mr Lamb said the generosity shown by the Singleton community, and beyond, in recent weeks has on occasion bought him to tears.
“A lady I know stopped me on the street, opened her purse and gave me $150 dollars,” he said.
“When I dropped off a tractor on the other side of Clarence Town I got to chatting to the owner of the property. I told him about what we were planning to do and as it turns out he just happened to be the proprietor of Majestic Cinemas. He said ‘I will run a fundraiser for you’.”
The Maybole Road Drought Relief Project came about after Mr Causley spent some time caretaking his brother-in-law’s property in the Northern Tablelands.
After seeing first- hand what the famers were going through Mr Causley decided he had to help them in some way.
So he purchased some hay and enlisted the help of his friend, Mr Lamb and in April the pair delivered 82 bales of hay to one particular farmer who was doing it tough.
Then Malcolm proceeded to drop off a bag of dog food and chocolate at every other mailbox along the road.
When doing this he left the following handwritten note: “To the primary producers of Maybole Road Ben Lomond, please accept this token of appreciation for your contribution to food and fibre production for our nation, with compliments from the people of Singleton.”
He says the assistance is more about helping to “maintain morale as much as anything.”
Anyone who wishes to donate or knows where the men can purchase some small square bales of hay is asked to contact Mr Lamb on 0427 695 468.
They are also still accepting donations of money to cover the costs of purchasing meal vouchers for the farmers at their local hotel.
An account has been opened at the Singleton Branch of the Newcastle Permanent and can to deposited to BSB 650 300, Account Number 515714408.