More than 100 people from a Sydney real estate agency are set to convoy to Dubbo and the Orana region to support drought-affected businesses and communities this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The DiJONES team will "shop, eat and spend locally" in a much-needed boost to 14 regional centres just weeks out from Christmas.
Organisers hope it will provide direct help in the face of one of the most severe droughts on record, with the impact of disrupted agricultural production also rippling through towns.
With more than 30 vehicles already signed up, the three-day event starting on Sunday will travel as far west as Nyngan covering more than 3000 kilometres through some of the towns worst-hit by persistent dry weather.
DiJONES chief executive officer Rob Ward said the towns and communities were feeling the pinch of the drought.
"We've been hearing stories about NSW farmers battling a record-breaking drought and the suffering of small businesses that service these regions," he said.
"Instead of sending hampers purchased from Pitt Street in Sydney, we decided to convoy our team through regional-NSW to shop, eat and spend locally in businesses that are struggling in the midst of the drought.
"Our DiJONES Drought Drive team will refuel, eat, stay in family-owned motels and importantly spend up big ticking off their Christmas shopping wish-list, injecting much-needed cash into communities.
"Whilst visiting and working on farms, our team will witness firsthand the devastating impact of drought on towns, communities and farmers."
DiJONES has also published a regional business e-catalogue, which features retailers from Dubbo and the Orana region.
It can be viewed at: https://www.dijones.com.au/community/drought-drive-e-catalogue/