“It was a real roller\coaster,” Natasha said. “People were coming up to us, hugging us and telling their stories all day.

“For some people, it was the first time they had reached out for help, after trying to last without asking.

“There’s such a lot of heartbreak out there, and there’s lots of things we’ve taken note of and will come back to deal with.”

As well as contributing around $80,000 worth of hampers, including 265 prepaid Visa cards, to the hay run, the Drought Angels were integral to its success, raising $41,000 for fuel vouchers for the truckies taking part.

They also supplied the food and drinks for the free concert at Ilfracombe at the end of the run.

Some of the money raised for the charity came from a lunch at the Regatta Hotel in December, organised by Helen Griffiths, who has long been aware of the plight of Queensland producers, partly because of her sister, Yuleba’s Annie Brodie.

The 200-strong ladies lunch at the iconic Brisbane pub raised $80,000.

The pair joined the hay convoy at Blackall with the specific aim of supporting the Drought Angels.

“We’ll continue raising funds too,” Helen said. “We won’t stop until the drought is over.”

Natasha acknowledged the assistance given by Chinchilla’s Erb Bros Transport since the Drought Angels formed in 2014, carting everything on their various trips west to droughted regions free of charge.

Emerald-based mobile hairdressers Judy Potter and Kerrie Baumann, along with beauty therapist Kiyomi Booth, donated their services for the day, giving men, women and children alike a pampering session alongside the hay donation, an initiative of the Emerald Neighbourhood Centre.

Natasha said one of the most important parts of the hay run had been the exposure to the horror of drought it gave people.

“No amount of photos make you comprehend real life here,” she said. “Now, everyone is asking when the next run is.

“Everyone wants to keep helping now.”

Queensland Country Life