Melbourne Cup-winning jockey turned trainer Michelle Payne rallies support to help drought-stricken farmers
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, who trains in partnership with her brother Patrick, grew up on a dairy farm her father Paddy owned in Rochester, 180km north of Melbourne.
'A few of us in the racing industry have been working together to collect unused feed from our horses, taken from their bins each morning and afternoon,' Payne posted on social media.
'While this feed is top quality and helps our horses perform at their best, once removed (from the feed bins) almost all of it can no longer be used for horses in training or rest.
'However, it's still perfectly suitable for cattle, sheep, and other livestock.'
Severe drought has gripped parts of rural and regional Victoria.
'With the drought hitting so hard this year and winter already upon us, it may feel a little late, but better late than never,' Payne said.
'The impact of no rain has been devastating.'
A lot of hardworking trainers, especially in regional areas, already support local farmers with their own initiatives, but Payne said a statewide industry approach 'could make a real difference'.
'If each racing club across Victoria could get behind this, starting with helping trainers co-ordinate and collect, we could really scale this initiative,' Payne said.
' Ballarat, Flemington, Cranbourne and Pakenham have already been approached and are keen to support.'
Payne said Aussie Hay Runners, an organisation that transported donated hay to farmers by affected by flood, bushfire and extreme weather events, could 'help with logistics wherever possible'.
'We just ask all trainers bag up their waste feed and put aside for easy collection,' Payne said.
'Feed stores making deliveries could be a huge help in collecting when dropping off feed orders – supplying an area for farmers to collect.
'Many feed companies are coming on board, thank you for your help.
'Let's come together to support our fellow Aussies doing it tough.'
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