IT WAS a gesture of pure compassion and goodwill.
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When Coffs Harbour couple Barry and Mary Bentley felt moved to donate to drought-hit farmers, Mrs Bentley struck upon a novel idea.
“We thought if we donated money, women would just spend it on their families or fodder for stock, so we put hampers together in the hope women would be able to treat themselves to a bit of pampering,” Mrs Bennett said.
The result was 45 lovingly compiled hampers, containing a range of products from shampoos to perfume to distribute to drought-affected women in the North West.
Barwon MP Kevin Humphries received the hampers recently and was given the privilege of organising the handout.
He said he was touched by the generosity of the Bentleys and the residents of Coffs Harbour, who donated money to support the appeal.
“I am heartened to see that our friends on the coast have acted so generously and compassionately to cheer up their western NSW counterparts,” Mr Humphries said.
The Bentleys were inundated with donations of cosmetics and beauty products from all over Coffs Harbour, which they packaged up into hampers.
Mr Humphries said he had been working with the Gwydir Group branch of the CWA and Rural Financial Counselling Service to help distribute the baskets to women in the North West.
The packs were distributed at the recent Walgett Drought Buster Barbecue.