RURAL Aid's Farm Army have rolled into Murrurundi hoping to breathe new life into the rural community.
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More than 70 volunteers have set up camp for the week, working on four farms and many schools and community projects.
Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said the volunteers have come from all over Australia.
"Some grey nomads, some spending their annual holidays giving a helping hand to this community," he said.
"We want to give Murrurundi and the surrounding towns a giant hug!
"We want them to know that other people from across this great land, care about them. The dirt may now have a green tingle, but the need is still very great."
Accompanying the Farm Army from Rural Aid is the Australian Army Band Sydney.
While the farm army will be working around Murrurundi on farms, schools and other community projects, the army band will be performing at 11 schools alongside Rural Aid's Gift of Music program.
"We want to make a difference in the lives of rural children," Program Manager Robyn Thomson said.
"By donating these musical instruments, we're helping to give them opportunities that they just otherwise wouldn't have.
"We also have boxes of Lego, stationery and even an iPad for each school. It's a bit like Christmas, and the children love it! Bringing the band along is another exciting element.
"They get everyone up on their feet having a great time. The local music teachers can't wait to share our gift of music with their students, which will expand and develop each program for many years to come."
After rocking the night away at a welcome dinner at the White Hart Hotel last night the army band will head to local schools to perform.
Locals will be able to hear them again on Thursday night at Murrurundi Primary School at 6.30pm.
Bring your dancing shoes for a great night out. Admission is free.
The community also received a boost on Monday morning with a sponsored hay drop, with hay going to 16 different farmers around Timor.
More than 120 tonne of hay coming from South Australia will give these farmers a much needed reprieve from feeding their stock.
One farmer commented that now he can pay his car rego, while others said it was great to not have to worry about where the fodder was going to come from.
"Transgrid very generously provided the funds to purchase this hay as they wanted the farmers to know they cared about them," Rural Aid General Manager Wayne Thomson said.
"They also provided some $8000 worth of local supermarket vouchers to help with purchasing some food for the families of the farmers".