George Moore (right) delivers his firelighters to Wilks Park resident Phillip. Photo: Chriss Buchan.
It’s -4 degrees celsius on a frosty winter morning but 11-year-old George Moore is bounding out of his cosy bed early to be ready for a big day.
Eurongilly Public School is closed today, instead, George is on a mission to do what he can to support those without a home in the Riverina.
“I saw a bit on TV on the homeless and looked around at what I have and decided I wanted to find something online that I could make,” he explains.
“After some experimenting, I came up with the firelighters.”
Squatting to the ground he proudly gathers handfuls of cupcake mounds filled with shredded paper recycled from the local post office and bound together by eco soy wax.
The pint-sized social entrepreneur loads mum Kylie’s Toyota with numerous cartons to head to Wilks Park in North Wagga, a 20-minute drive from the family home at Wantabadgery.
On arrival, he unpacks the cartons filled with homemade firelighters and approaches a cluster of tents nestled beside damp green grass, cold ashes and burnt logs from the night before.
“I like helping people and it makes me feel good,” says George, explaining that his business contributes to a number of local charities as well as earning him a little pocket money.
“Since I started nine months ago I have received lots of orders and donations and with the pocket money, I bank some, I also buy cattle and I’m saving for my own TV.”
His first order was small, but the next one was bigger and lots of customers, predominantly in the Riverina and Murrumbidgee districts, are continuing with their orders.
“I sell them at $5 for a small pack and $10 for a large pack, and I donate $1 per pack towards care packages for families, made up of toothbrushes, undies and toys,” he says.
“I make them all up at home and Dad built me my own bench in the shed so I don’t have to make them in Mum’s kitchen and lounge room.”
Mum helps with publicity and deliveries are made personally where possible. Grandma also helps deliver orders around Wagga.
A lover of sport, George plays for the Junee Diesels and is an avid supporter of the Panthers.
“I would love to be a professional footballer with NRL one day,” he enthuses and Kylie adds that he would do well if he pursued a business career.
George makes more deliveries at Wilks Park. Photo: Chriss Buchan.
At Wilks Park, George skips happily down the muddied slippery track towards the cluster of tents.
Stopping at the first, he calls out politely and Phillip appears from inside, cup in hand – he is delighted to accept his supply and obviously touched by the young man’s generosity.
His next customer Rob wants to make a contribution, but George declines and explains that he had received lots of orders so made an extra 100 just for people like Rob and his companion Stacey.
George continues on his mission ducking in and out of tents and small ageing vans still covered with dew.
For those who aren’t in, he leaves a package beside their fires.
When the day’s good deed is done, George heads to visit Grandma and share lunch with friends.
George has grand ideas for the future and says his next venture will be making posters and hygiene packs and children’s toys from donations, for victims of domestic violence.
“I’ll do a shout-out to the parents and school for donations,” he adds, confident that his efforts will be successful.
George’s eco-friendly firelighters can be ordered here.
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