LIKE a preacher at the pulpit, Brendan “Bumper” Farrell evangelises to the masses through YouTube and Facebook video.
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And the top commandment in the gospel according to Bumper is loving thy neighbour.
Unfortunately for the laconic Murrami farmer, the neighbours most in need are 1700km to the north of him.
In an inspiring show of country spirit, Bumper and his disciples have this month returned from their 12th Burrumbuttock Hay Run.
It’s a convoy of hay and hope, more than 100 trucks rumbling north to deliver fodder to drought-bludgeoned farmers in northern NSW and western Queensland.
Bumper describes himself as “just an ordinary bloke with a truck”.
But the farmers who have benefited from his remarkable charity disagree.
The event hasn’t just become a lifeline for our struggling country cousins but a potent symbol of the bush helping the bush.
Those that have been on the odyssey – the last one had more than 120 trucks – describe it as a life-changing experience.
“To meet the farmers and get to talk to them about the daily struggles they face living on the land is an honour,” Leeton’s Sue Parker, who went on the last run, said.
“Seeing the locals standing in the streets, waving you through the towns with homemade signs saying thank you is something I will never forget.”
Such testimonies make a mockery of claims this week from a Longreach business owner that farmers would be better served if the “runners” stayed home and just sent money up north.
Longreach travel agent Danny Sheehan told Fairfax Media the last hay run cost about $600,000, arguing by making the trip north, the hay runners were in effect hurting local businesses.
“It’s a fantastic thing but it costs a lot,” he said.
“I just think if you could turn $600,000 into cash vouchers, it would go further.”
It strict monetary terms he may be right.
But he misses the larger point.
The Hay Run can’t and shouldn’t be quantified in just dollars and cents.
It’s about bush people standing as one in solidarity; it’s about basic human compassion
And it’s about one “ordinary bloke with a truck” being able to do something truly extraordinary.