By Goya Dmytryshchak
A chance meeting in the bar of the Titanic Theatre Restaurant in Williamstown has led to its owners helping two Tasmanian truck drivers ship bales of hay to farmers in Dubbo.
David Varney said the two young log truck drivers had booked into the venue on a Saturday night and as they were leaving the three got talking.
“They said, ‘We’ve just delivered two truckloads of hay to Dubbo and we’re waiting to go back on the Spirit [of Tasmania] on Monday’,” Mr Varney said.
Truckers Dean Stubbs and Rohan Innes told him they had another 500 bales of their own hay they wanted to deliver, but weren’t sure how they were going to manage it.
“It was then my partner Adrienne and I said, ‘We will do everything in our power to support that aim,” said Mr Varney, himself an East Gippsland farmer.
The venue will next month hold a gala night dubbed The Tassie to Dubbo Hay Run, with $60 from each ticket going towards the cost of delivering the hay.
“We have had fabulous offers of support from so many – donations of accommodation, printing, products for our auction.”
He said there would be five trucks doing the hay run, and possbly his own smaller truck would be a mascot carrying eight bales.
“We plan to document the trip, from loading up in Tassie, the Bass Strait voyage, the parking of the trucks and hay outside the Titanic during our event, and then the journey to Dubbo,” Mr Varney said.
“It’s very special that people have stood up. It just makes you feel warm. Sometimes in our lives it is time for all of us to just give a little back. I am so proud of where we have got to so far with all the support and maybe it might add just a little sparkle to us in the west to stand up and show we all care.”
The Titanic Tassie to Dubbo Hay Run black-tie voyage will depart on Friday, November 9, boarding time 7pm. Fares cost $126 with $60 going to drought relief. RSVP by November 2. Tickets and more information: 0416 231 912
