"To the Ladies of the Land, Merry Christmas from the Ladies of the Sea."
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So reads one of the handwritten messages attached to a ute-load of donated pamper packs on the road to Orange this weekend thanks to one Bega woman - and a whole lot of generous community members.
The Ladies of the Land movement has become a social media juggernaut since starting only in late October.
It's "dedicated to the ladies of the land who often put themselves last", calling for shoeboxes filled with gifts and goodies to help pamper them.
It was started by two friends in drought-ravaged Cumnock with an aim to "pay it forward" after farmer Elzette Connan received a "box of sunshine" (filled with yellow goodies) from a friend in Western Australia.
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They thought 100 boxes was a good aim - "we thought if we get that we will be lucky" Ms Connan told Australian Community Media.
Thousands have been pledged!
Among them are 130-plus from the Bega district after Chrissy Ubrihien-Carpenter put a small callout among her own circles.
Husband John said Chrissy had planned to visit friends in Orange this weekend and offered to run up a few shoebox pamper packs while she was at it.
"As of last night there were 110 boxes and I was playing a game of Tetris trying to fit them all in the back of the Ranger!
"There are also another 20 or so here in my office this morning to add," he said on Thursday.
Each of the generous parcels has been wrapped in pages from the Bega District News so those who receive the lovely gifts know from where they have come.
"It's been an amazing response. And from all different demographics of the Bega Valley getting on board," John said.
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