Central Victorian Burrumbuttock Hay Runners head for home | Photos, video

THEY were part of what’s being called the world’s biggest truck convoy, now the central Victorian truck drivers are heading home.

More than 20 joined the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners in delivering $6 million worth of hay to the drought-stricken town of Ilfracombe, in Queensland.

Troy Hendy of St Arnaud business Hendy Transport told The Bendigo Advertiser this morning he expected to be home by the day’s end.

“It ran real smoothly up there,” he said.

Hendy Transport’s two trucks arrived on Friday night and unloaded about 80 bales of hay donated by the St Arnaud community on Saturday morning.

“The gratitude of the people up there was unbelievable – that’s why you do it,” Mr Hendy said.

He and his colleague had an opportunity to look around the town and explore the region before starting the return journey. 

“They’re still in a bit of trouble,” Mr Hendy said of Ilfracombe.

The journey from St Arnaud to Ilfracombe via the hay run’s starting point in Burrumbuttock, New South Wales, was more than 2000 kilometres.

The return journey involves about 20 hours of driving. 

But Mr Hendy said he wouldn’t hesitate to do a third hay run.

“If there’s another one, you can’t say no,” he said.

The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Facebook page claims more than 250 trucks and 400 trailers were involved in the initiative. 

Maher Transport owner Brendan Maher, of Raywood, brought his family along for the adventure.

He said his sons Lachlan, 21, Heath, 18, and Declan, 14, especially benefited from the experience.

“The concept of the whole thing was that it was just mates helping mates,” Mr Maher said.

“It’s a good thing for the kids to learn.”

He said his boys were amazed by the conditions the farmers were faced with in Ilfracombe, and he and wife Debbie were glad to have met so many kind-hearted people along the way.

“I”m happy we’ve done it,” Mr Maher said.

“It’s what you’d like somebody to do to you if you were in the same spot.”