More than 100 farmers from the central west will be given a helping hand in the form of a special hay delivery over the coming months.
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Starting in May, a total of 574 tonnes of hay will be rolling into Gollan to help drought affected farmers.
The donated fodder has been organised by local farmers and Lions Club District 201N4 members Anne Jones and Peter Perry.
The delivery has been made possible thanks to a $137,000 NSW Government Donated Fodder Transport subsidy
Ms Jones said the donated fodder was the "difference between being able to continue or to totally destock".
"To actually speak to the people, you really need to talk to them, to appreciate how much they appreciate all the help that they've received, not only from us, The Lions, but particularity from the NSW Government," she said.
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The Gollan farmer said due to COVID-19, they have had to change they way they deliver the hay,
"(It) will be very different to what we were previously doing. Previously we would have approximately 30 to 40 volunteers on any day, with COVID-19 we've written a risk management plan which has been approved.
"We have approval now to proceed again, although initially we couldn't because of the restrictions, but we're starting again on May 23 and another on May 30 and we will continue (over) June, July, August, until such time (when) all the hay that we have here and all the need is gone."
"Without the assistance that we've actually received from the NSW Government through the RAA, we would not be able to have helped as many people as we have," she explained.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said this was part of a broad range of support available to assist farmers and their families.
"Despite recent welcome rain, farmers across this region are still battling one of the worst droughts on record, so the NSW Government is doing what it can to support our farmers and regional communities," Mr Saunders said.
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To date, the NSW Government has provided more than $23 million in Donated Fodder Transport subsidies to support rural communities and community organisations.
The NSW Government has a range of grants, subsidies and support services available to assist drought affected primary producers.
For more information on the NSW Government's more than $1.1 billion drought response package, visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au.
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