By Natalee Kerr
In the lead up to his recent ninth birthday, Highton’s Fraser Mackey had a “light-bulb” moment.
As Fraser begged his mum, Kylie, for an array of gifts she challenged him to imagine how he would feel if he had no presents, a cake or a party.
She told him that was the current situation for many farming kids in drought-affected townships in New South Wales.
“He knew about kids suffering in poor third-world nations, but he struggled to comprehend kids, just like him here in Australia, were also suffering,” she said.
“He turned to me and said, ‘We’ve got to do something, mum!’”
From there, the introverted grade three Montpellier Primary School student initiated a “secret Santa” fundraiser in a bid to spread the “Christmas joy” to farming families.
Teaming up with not-for-profit charity Drought Angles, the local school is collecting toys and trucking them to more than 270 struggling kids in drought-stricken towns of Trangie and Tullamore.
“These kids and their families are doing it really tough, most wouldn’t get anything for Christmas if we didn’t step into help,” Kylie said.
“To think that kids, just like ours, would go without because of the drought and the financial hardship it has imposed on their families is totally unacceptable.”
More than $12,000 worth of gifts have been donated to the fundraiser since it opened 11 days ago, Kylie said.
“The amount of toys coming through to the school is unbelievable; on the first day we had a huge box already filled.”
“We’ve seen some amazing generosity from families across Geelong.”
Montpellier Primary School will be accepting new, un-opened toy donations until the end of this month.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/countrykidschristmasappeal.
