Thirteen truck drivers, along with their passengers, and support crew had given up much of their Saturday to help those doing it tough.

Images of the Warrumbungle Shire after it was left devastated by the Sir Ivan fire left many people shocked, but for a small group of Bathurst men they decided to take action.

Hay2Help was created and so far it has raised almost $200,000 in donated goods and cash.

On Saturday, Parade was lucky enough to be invited to go along and report on the massive convoy as it left our city.

Even though it was early, people knew that they were going to make a difference to those in need.

Excitement was in the air as truck drivers had their final swig from takeaway coffee cups before they jumped aboard their rigs for the firezone.

In this job you get to do and hear about a lot of great things, and this convoy definitely left Parade smiling.

What a great and generous city we live in, and what amazing people we have who are only too willing to give up their time, money and energy to help out those who need it.

Well done to every single person who was involved.

If you’re still keen to help out, visit www.facebook.com/hay2help to find out more.

PARADE may have pinched a line from one of her all-time favourite movies, Grease, to start off this entry, but summer is indeed drifting away.

Summer is definitely Parade’s favourite time of year – the days are long and the weather is hot.

There’s more time to get outside and do stuff after work, and the skies are bright blue.

But, by Wednesday it’ll all be over for another year.

Even Weatherzone seems to have got the message with Bathurst temperatures predicted to hover around the mid 20s for the first few days of autumn.