"He pulled up and he says, ‘I’ve had an idea … and you can’t say no.
In just four weeks, with the help of his wife, Glenn ‘Yogi’ Kendall and fellow driver Peter Wright amassed more than $100,000 worth of hay and farm supplies from WA farmers and businesses for drought-affected NSW farmers.
It is the second hay convoy to leave from Western Australia since it was declared last month that 100 per cent of NSW was in drought.
These people down here, they know drought … they’ve seen drought so they just jumped on real quick and supported us," he said.
Promoting regional life Mr Kendall said the convoy would also highlight the struggles of rural living.
"Each night for the next five nights we’ve got structured events organised so we want to promote rural businesses, we want to promote regional living, we want to promote the idea of locals looking after locals," he said.
With the staggering amount supplies donated, and a lack of trucks to cart it across the Nullarbor, about 100 tonnes has been left behind in WA.
Communities pull together On the invitation of farmer Emily Starcevich, the convoy made its first overnight rest stop in the small town of Salmon Gums on WA’s south-east coast.
You’ve got to support your neighbour," he said.
With a population of just under 800 people, on Monday night the Salmon Gums community raised $800 for drought relief, which will accompany the eight trucks of hay and pellets bound for NSW farmers.