Weeks out from celebrating Christmas with her family, Angela Crowe of Avalon Beach has already given a gift to drought-hit rural communities.
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The resident of the Sydney suburb has thrown her support behind Buy from the Bush, the social media campaign connecting country stores with metro shoppers.
Since the Instagram page was launched on October 16, Mrs Crowe has made purchases from about 10 regional stores, happy to be one of the "city girls... helping the country girls".
An airbnb operator and grandmother, she is sharing the message with family and friends and anticipates her considered purchasing choices will continue well beyond the festive season.
Mrs Crowe became one of the first of Buy from the Bush's Instagram followers, which this week ticked over the 100,000 mark.
Created by Grace Brennan of the Warren district, the social media pages and hashtag encourage city consumers to spend their dollars in communities struggling through drought.
"I saw a post and it resonated with me instantly, I just thought it was such a great initiative," Mrs Crowe said.
"So I got on board straight away.
"I can't stop buying and my husband's worse than me, by the way."
My husband also has [Buy from the Bush] on his Instagram - now he's not a shopper, I'm a shopper but he's not a shopper. ...[He] sent me a text and said 'I've bought a pouf for the lounge', and I nearly died because it's what I wanted too, but he bought it all by himself.
- Angela Crowe
Mrs Crowe said she felt like she was making a tangible difference.
"The city girls are helping the country girls," she said.
"The first few things I bought, I couldn't believe the messages I got from the girls who I bought from and they said to us how fantastic it is and how much we're helping them.
"And it just gives you more of a kick to do more."
Christmas cakes, chutneys and other foodie delights have been selected and a lampshade was so "fantastic" when it arrived that Mrs Crowe ordered another one.
Her airbnb in Avalon is decked out with soaps and cards from southern NSW artist Cathy Hamilton.
And Mrs Crowe's Christmas table "for 18 will all be set from Buy from the Bush".
The keen quilter has told her networks about the social media movement.
"When this started, even though it's not even a drop in the ocean, it's just made me feel like I was helping, and I think that's really important for us," she said.
"...seeing more and more followers joining, it just makes you part of something that the whole country should be behind, I think."
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
