IT’S a far cry from the lush green pastures in Ireland.
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The farmland in the Upper Hunter is barren and dry, suffering from the worst drought in over 100 years.
But before he returns to Ireland for university young Harrison Badger is determined to do his bit to help out.
The 20-year-old moved to Gundy in April to work with his brother at Kitchwin Hills Stud.
Touched by some of the stories he has heard from farmers on neighbouring properties, Harrison decided he wanted to start a fundraiser for local drought aid.
Harrison will attempt to walk from Coffs Harbour to the Gold Coast, some 320 kilometres, to raise awareness and funds and has started a GoFund me page so people can assist him along the way.
“You hear about all these crises,” Harrison said in the car with his brother as they drive up the coast.
“But back home they’re really not hearing much about this.
“I’ve been living in Gundy where the people who are suffering are neighbouring farmers and people I know, people I have drinks with.”
Harrison hopes his story will reach people back in Ireland through his social media channels.
“I’ll try to get as many donations as I can from home,” he said.
“These are really salt of the earth farmers that I know which are in a real crisis which people aren’t realising worldwide and I want to do my bit before I go home.”
Harrison said he has always liked hiking but never done anything quite like this.
“My brother and I were talking about travelling,” he said.
“And we are currently doing a holiday, but my brother was planning on taking his car back and said ‘how do you plan to travel the coast?’”
“Well I thought I might just do that as my fundraiser and walk it.
“So it was just really a spontaneous idea.”
The funds Harrison raises will go back to Aussie Helpers and be allocated locally in the Scone and Gundy areas.
He hopes to raise awareness in a way that will get people behind charities like Aussie Helpers and other fundraising ideas.
“I said to be generous it will take me presumably ten days to walk it,” he said.
“But I’m bringing my swag and mostly I’ll be just swagging it. I plan to wear a sign, which I’m currently making, on my back to say why I’m walking so people driving past can see it.
“Anywhere that I’m stopping and staying I’m going to try and raise awareness and I’ll try to get the people I meet along the way on board as well.”
You can support Harrison through his Gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/320km-walk-to-raise-for-the-drought