Newcastle businessman Warren Mills decided in 2018 to go the extra mile to ensure his efforts to help drought-ravaged farmers went directly to those in need.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Come Tuesday, Mr Mills and his supporters are on the road again.
Mr Mills, the managing director of Newcastle Sheetmetal and a long-time supporter at the Edgeworth Eagles Football Club, has led a campaign to collect about $13,000 in donations as well as many other provisions.
In 2018, Mr Mills bought $4000 worth of hay and took it to farmers in the Moree and Wee Waa regions, along with $6000 to the Moree Drought Muster.
On Tuesday, his team is heading to Molong, near Orange, to take donations and provisions to properties living with level 5 water restrictions.
Coles Fletcher and All Engineering Services, as well as Cessnock MP Clayton Barr and Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery, have also helped collect donations, which include credit cards, clothing, toiletries, nappies, water, groceries and even second-hand soccer boots.
Mr Mills said he was driven to directly help those in need.
"You donate money to charities and you find out a large percentage goes on fees, so we just ended up deciding to do it ourselves," Mr Mills said.
"It was pretty cool going out there and meeting some of the locals. It was a good feeling.
"Newcastle Sheetmetal and Edgeworth Eagles raised about $13,000 and we kept $3000 for a second run.
"I just looked at where the biggest drought area was and picked Molong. They are on level 5 restrictions, which is really severe. And they only got about 8mm out of that rain last weekend."
He said the $3000 would go towards water deliveries to the most needy in Molong.
Anyone wanting to donate can contact Mr Mills on 0417 419 402.