COMING from the land and seeing the drought take its toll on his family's dairy farm in the 1960s was all the inspiration Rodney Geddes needed to get behind the people of Longreach.

The 65-year-old Warwick resident is among a strong group of volunteers who have pounded the pavement in recent weeks to drum up support in the community for the Community Disaster Relief Van's Outback Relief Fund.

"I've been on the land and been through a few droughts," he said.

"I saw the battle my old man had in the 60s - we used to feed cattle by hand and pump water to different locations."

Despite the hardships then, Mr Geddes said nothing could compare to the struggles facing the people of Longreach.

"They've been as bare as a board out that way - it's a worry," he said.

"I used to travel that country - there are some good people out there.

"You wonder when it will end."

Mr Geddes knows what it's like to do it tough, in October 2013 he was diagnosed with cancer that had spread from his neck to his brain.

Despite suffering from depression and the long-term effects of his treatment, the hard-working local said he was doing as much as he could to help out.

"I'm hoping to get out there one day and see what I can do," he said.

"The CDRV have done a brilliant job - they work so hard and people have been so generous."

Boots on the ground out west...

THERE'S no better way to report on a situation than to send a reporter to the scene and get a firsthand account.

It's with this in mind that Daily News reporter Jayden Brown will be tagging along with the Community Disaster Relief Van convoy, leaving the Rose City on April 9 for the 2200km round journey to Longreach.

During the four-day tour, Jayden will meet local people and the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to shine a light on the plight of the people in Outback Queensland.

Assisting with the sorting of delivery and boxes, Jayden will travel with the convoy to various properties in the Longreach area - sharing the stories of how your donations will make a difference to those doing it tough.

Readers will get a first hand account of life in Longreach, complete with photos and video from the drought hit community.

Be sure to follow the tour of Longreach on the Warwick Daily News website, with regular updates on the Facebook page.