“A thousand dollars is about what you’d need just to pay for half the fuel to get you up north,” said Wagga businessman and Victorian farm manager Ian Haig.

“These trucks eat fuel, so even though they’ve got the hay, if they don't have the funds for fuel, they can’t deliver it.”

South Wagga Rotary president David Dunn oversaw the community’s donations, which amounted to $1000 by its collation on Monday October 15.

At a rough estimate, the amount will transport one truck to the halfway point between Burrumbuttock in the central southern Riverina, and Ilfracombe in Barcaldine Region of Queensland. That would be somewhere between Enngonia, NSW and Barringun, Queensland.

“Rotary has been fundraising as a nation to help the drought effort,” said Mr Dunn.

“There’s been huge support here locally since we started a few months ago.”

Adding to the immediate donation, the Wagga club intends to keep the finances flowing to where it is most needed.

“Because we think the drought will go in for a while yet, we’re putting aside $5000 to help again in the future,” Mr Dunn said.

“If it’s not needed in time, it’ll go to a local charity.”