Dick's Hay helping KI farmers soldier on

Kingscote marine business owner and hobby farmer Bradley Jamieson wanted to help during the recent bushfires, so started calling around locally to see who could donate either hay or money. He teamed up with local farmers and hay contractors Dan and Jasmin Florance, who had been helping Mr Lang with his farm.

"Dan and Jasmin were meant to sell Dick's hay for him (180 big round bales) so we began by finding generous buyers for it, with the proceeds given to the Lang family and the hay donated to local farmers," he said.

That initial fundraising attracted $20,000 for the Lang family, but the donations kept rolling in, so more local hay was bought.

They have also received significant local hay donations.

"We always wanted to keep the initiative local, to support local farmers and businesses," he said.

"We know there is a big relief effort coming from the mainland, which we support, but we wanted to help farmers immediately and local hay doesn't have as many biosecurity issues."

So far, more than 11 semi-loads have been delivered to about a dozen farmers.

"The local support has been crazy," he said.

"We may hate each other on the football field, but when (things go wrong), we have banded together."