Finding a positive in this drought is no easy feat, especially when there's probably a layer of dust covering it, but two youngsters have found a creative way to turn the lack of rain on its head.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Macie and Will McNulty have started bottling dust, offering customers the chance to own a piece of history. The 'Once in a lifetime millennial drought bulldust - SuperDry' circa 2019 from Mooch + Wombat DUSTillery costs $5, with all proceeds going towards Christmas presents for bush kids.
Mum, Hannah, said the little entrepreneurs had seen great success raising over $6,500 in eight days. "It was all a bit of a joke; I said to make three, to sell one to your grandparents and that will do," Hannah said.
"We thought I'd put it on my Facebook and make a big joke out of it, but it's gone crazy."
There's no shortage of dust at "The Grove", having been in drought for two years.
"We've had really bad dust storms here, those ones that look like the world is going to end," she said.
"We got three dust storms in a week, and I was becoming a bit defeated and I noticed the kids were getting negative too. To be able to see the dust has a bit of a silver lining is really special, because at the end of the day there's nothing anyone can do to make it rain."
The one wrinkle in their plan was that Dad, Heath, has gone off beer. Luckily for Mooch + Wombat, local restaurants have committed to keeping their empty beer bottles and donating them.
They have so far sold 1151 bottles with 1037 donated back for resale and donation for bush kids. Sales have come from Darwin to SA and Tassie. They have even had contact from the USA.
"We've got kids donating their pocket money, and we've got the most incredible stories coming through. A lot are just donations, they don't even want the stubby, they just want the gifts to go towards bush kids."
As production streamlined, the focus turned to identifying bush kids most in need of a bit of magic this Dustmas.
"We're very sensitive to everyone's situation but we just want the magic of Christmas," Hannah said.
"It's pretty bad here, but we tell the kids there are people worse off than them, and I know that's the bush mentality. Anymore donations received, we will do 'back to school' packs in January."
Hannah said despite the resilience of kids, the drought was clearly taking a toll.
"I just think the fact that their home is a dustbowl, like many other kids, is the hardest thing," she said.
"Kids are incredibly resilient, but I feel like everyone says that, that they're resilient, but then they're kind of getting forgotten in all of this, because they're still witnessing it all.
Read Also:
"We've got a thing here where the dads go to a mental health get-together and there's a lot of support for mums, but there's not really a lot for the kids and we need to change that."
If you know a bush kid who is in need or you would like to donate or make a purchase, you can contact Hannah McNulty at hannah.m.mcnulty@gmail.com
