Quick Shears raises $13,000 for farmers

"We heard Griffith farmer and electrical wholesaler Brendan Farrell talk about how dry and devastating it was out there especially in Lightning Ridge and Walgett and how they needed money to cover fuel and freight to get the thousands of bales of hay to them so we thought we could help," Mrs Coddington, who owns the property Catombal with her husband, said.

"Myself and Graham decided over a cup of tea we could help them and everybody has opened their hearts," she said.

Dubbo West Rotary got on board and raised $10,000 and the Yeoval Quick Shears event on Sunday raised about $13,000 through an auction and other activities businesses and locals from Dubbo, Wellington, Forbes, Parkes, Yeoval and Cumnock coming together to support fellow farmers.

"People are so generous and the rural community are wonderful right throughout the central west and look at the crowd, quite amazing," Mrs Coddington said.

Brendon Farrell said he was so thankful "the communities out here have embraced their fellow farmers in such a wonderful way".

"They will be so grateful," she said.

"My thanks to Dubbo West Rotary and the Coddingtons and of course all of the businesses and local supporters," he said.

"It has been incredible, more than $3 million of hay has been delivered out there".

Lance Murphy of Dubbo West Rotary was all smiles after his club had worked overtime to secure much-needed funds.

Mrs Coddington said the federal government needed to back farmers.

"The challenge is to get the subsidies out there for farmers who struggle like this," she said.

"We're hoping the government can help.

In all, 44 shearers from Wellington, Yeoval, Dubbo, Goulburn, Bathurst, Parkes, Boorowa, Canowindra, Cowra and Cumnock took part in the Yeoval Quickshear.

Organiser Alf Cantrell said it was the most competitive and the best turnout in seven years.