February’s 55,000 hectare Sir Ivan fire east of Dunedoo not only wiped out homes, outbuildings and a church, it left thousands of stock and pets without feed.

In stepped a group of Bathurst men who set up the Hay2Help appeal to assist those in the fire-ravaged area.

James Walton from Bowyer and Livermore First National was the first behind the initiative and said he was overwhelmed to see so many truckloads of feed leave Bathurst on Saturday morning.

In all, there was 13 trucks of hay and pet feed – not only was the feed donated, so were the trucks, the fuel and the drivers.

“We set out to get one to three semi loads of hay, and we’d be happy with that, but today we’ve got over a dozen semis here and it’s just been amazing,” he said on Saturday.

In all Mr Walton said the appeal has collected $183,000 in donations – $30,000 in hay, $150,000 in pet food from Mars Petcare and almost $3000 in cash.

“None of this happens without the community and I think everyone should be so proud,” he said.

“Thirteen trucks it’s pretty bloody awesome, but you know what, it’s country NSW, it’s Australia.

“It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Dylan ‘Spud’ Meyers from Austhaul was among the drivers and when asked why he gave up his Saturday to make the six-hour round trip to the firezone, he said the answer was easy.

“It’s just what you do … you just pitch in and lend a hand,” he said.

Mr Walton said more trucks travelled to Dunedoo this week, and there’s more to come.

He said the efforts of the Bathurst crew are only a fraction of a much bigger picture.

“What we’re doing is only a drop in the ocean compared to everybody else, but it makes it all come together,” he said. 

“It’s just the Aussie spirit really, to help a mate out.”