'We Don't Know How Lucky We Are' - southburnett.com.au

20160108 Hay Convoy — One of the Gleich Contracting trucks rounded up and ready to roll!

January 12, 2016

A record-breaking hay convoy to drought-stricken farmers in western Queensland had a South Burnett flavour at the weekend … with local businesses supporting the run, local drivers taking part, and local cooks baking up some tasty treats to also head out west.

Paul Gleich, from Murgon-based Gleich Contracting, donated two road-trains to the Burrumbuttock Hay Run.

Paul and employee Michael Ferguson each drove a rig carrying the much-needed feed.

The Burrumbuttock Hay Run was organised by NSW wheat and sheep farmer Brendan Farrell.

This is the 10th run that Brendan has organised since 2013 but the first that has crossed into Queensland.

And it attracted a record number of trucks … a total of 124 prime movers, towing a total of 160 trailers.

The hay run began at Darlington Point in the Riverina on Thursday morning and headed via Cobar, Bourke, Barringun, Cunnamulla, Charleville, Blackall and Barcaldine to Ilfracombe.

Barringun? The tiny town on the Queensland side of the border hosted the convoy on Thursday night, feeding the drivers and making them feel very welcome.

The convoy then headed on north where they reached Ilfracombe about 7:00pm on Friday.

The Gleich Contracting trucks joined the convoy at Bourke after being loaded at Wee Waa.

As the Burrumbuttock Hay Run trucks passed through towns in NSW and Queensland, people lined the streets and cheered the drivers on.

At Ilfracombe, distribution of the hay was organised by Jenny Todd, from Aramac – a familiar face to many South Burnett residents from her years with Kingaroy Shire Council and Tarong Energy.

Paul admits that when the trucks finally rolled into the Ilfracombe Racecourse to unload, the reality of what they had just done really hit home.

“Blokes like to say they’re tough but there were tears in my eyes, I can tell you,” he said.

Paul spent Saturday helping to unload the hay bales, and then on Sunday helped to reload them onto farmers’ trucks.

“We unloaded just shy of 5000 bales on Saturday and reloaded 4000 on Sunday,” Paul said.

The bales were destined for all over western Queensland, including bales reloaded onto one of Paul’s trucks to head out to Winton.

More than 260 farmers received assistance.

Paul said he thought it was more than the hay that had helped to raise spirits.

“I think they didn’t realise how many people care about them,” he said.

“Some of the stories are heartbreaking.

“There was a husband and wife and two kids in a body truck. I was talking to them through the window as I was loading the hay.

“The 3½-year-old had never seen rain. Pointing at the wipers, he asked what are these things on the windscreen?

“We don’t know how lucky we are.”

He said he had heard about previous Burrumbuttock Hay Runs but when he learned this one was going to Queensland he volunteered to help “in a heart beat”.

“There was no question about it, we were going to help out.”

Paul said he would like to thank Seilers Transport and Ken Mills Toyota who donated fuel towards the run.

“To run just one truck takes about 2000 litres. Seilers donated 500 litres and Ken Mills donated 200 litres which was a huge help,” he said.

Paul’s sister-in-law Kristy Frahm also organised Baked Relief to accompany the convoy.

At short notice, she approached South Burnett cooks from Maidenwell to Durong who quickly started baking.

“We took 130 parcels of food out, too,” Paul said.

“That was also muchly appreciated!”

[Photos: Paul Gleich and Kristy Frahm]