The people behind a social media campaign encouraging rural spending were so inspired by the stories they were hearing about individual's efforts in bushfire ravaged areas that they decided to help share them.
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Buy from the Bush, the social media giant that started in October 2019, recently put a call out to its followers asking them to share their experiences of hope and bravery.
Since the call out on January, 7, it has been inundated with messages.
"We wanted to broadcast that everyone is doing their bit and there are so many positive stories during this horrendous time that will certainly go down in Australia's history as the worst bushfire we've had to date," Millie Plumptre, Buy from the Bush's 'Chief Hustle' said.
A large number of the stories have been about everyday Australian's - many themselves who have lost their homes or stock to the fires.
"What we're getting a lot of is how the children are getting on board, whether they're baking cookies or making lemonade to raise funds for charities... and also the children who have been evacuated are cool, calm and collected about the whole situation and they're helping the elderly or animals in evacuation centres. It's quite extraordinary," Ms Plumptre said.
While all have been heartwarming and brave, one story that Ms Plumptre relayed to the Western Magazine was about a ferry driver, just finishing his shift, who went back to pick people up free of charge to get them out of the south coast fires.
"All these every day heroes are not after publicity or recognition, they just see what needs to be done, they go out and do it without wanting anything in return.. that for me, and the children, are some of the most amazing aspects of the stories we're hearing," she said.
Ms Plumptree said the response from Buy from the Bush followers have shown that these stories of bravery and selflessness are what people want to hear about.
"There are far more good stories then there are bad and I know a lot of people have been looking at the television screens with their kids and it's all despair, anger and sadness which you can absolutely understand from the people who have lost livestock and their homes," she said.
"I think we were just very aware everyone was feeling a little helpless and just wanted a pick-me-up."
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
