A children’s book inspired by the cotton-growing industry in the Moree region will have its local launch at Harmony on the Plains at Moree Public School today.
Cotton at a Campsite, written by Kasey Holt – an author with strong family ties in Moree – was created after Kasey and her family spent several months working in the cotton industry in the Moree district.
The book came about after Kasey’s son, seven-year-old Chris, began selling bags of cotton samples to campers at Moree Tourist Park in 2022.
“Of an evening, while sitting in the hot spa at the park, we would chat to travellers, mostly from Victoria, about the cotton grown in the region,” Kasey said.
“There was so many people with questions, our son Chris came up with the idea to start a business teaching people about cotton.
“Chris borrowed a trolly from his uncle, Garry Morris, and packed cotton into zip-lock bags. Chris and his brother Jay, who was three at the time, would walk around the campground after school selling them for one-dollar each,” she laughed.
Kasey was born in Moree, a grand-daughter of one of Moree’s best-known cops, Ron Morris.
Her father, Greg Morris, farmed on Cambooya at Boomi for 30 years with John and Ada Seery until retirement beckoned in 2016.
“The farm was quite a hub and family affair for us all,” Kasey said.
“My sisters, cousins and uncles all worked on Cambooya Farm throughout the years. I attended Moree Public School for a short time when I was young and then moved to New Zealand with mum.”
Kasey and Daniel returned to Australia in 2021 and spent the next 18 months travelling and working across Queensland.
“We went from Bundaberg down the coast to Melbourne, then up through New South Wales via Lightning Ridge,” Kasey said.
“We settled in Moree for the 2022 ginning season where I was team leader at Brighann Cotton for the season.”
And it was during this six-month stint in Moree, Cotton at a Campsite was born.
“Travellers would ask us many questions about cotton, and we were amazed at how many people had never actually seen cotton growing,” Kasey said.
“Chris thought it would be a great idea for people to see and feel cotton so every afternoon after school, he and Jay would walk around the campsite with a trolley full of samples and talk about Australian cotton.
“In the five months we lived at the campground, he spoke to more than 200 travellers. He explained how the cotton was grown and picked, before being transported around the world.
“After that, along came Cotton at a Campsite,” Kasey smiled.
Kasey, Daniel and their two boys live in Pleasant Point, South Canterbury in New Zealand.
Kasey is an agronomist and runs the family property.
“We raise 250 calves annually,” she said.
Daniel is business manager on a nearby stud farm which runs 6000 red deer.
They are back in Australia to launch Cotton at a Campsite, illustrated by Daniel Wlodarski, at Harmony on the Plains today.
Moree residents and visitors to town are invited to take a journey with Delungra the echidna and his outback friends and discover where cotton comes from.
“While Cotton at a Campsite is illustrated for children, it has become very popular with farmers and grandparents, in particular, and especially travellers wanting to share stories of the white cotton fields they see in their journeys as they head north for the winter,” Kasey said.
Cotton at a Campsite also has a section at the back, full of fun facts about Australian cotton.
Harmony Day is recognised across Australia as a time to honour the nation’s rich cultural diversity, and the Moree Plains is no exception.
With residents representing a broad range of cultural backgrounds, the event fosters a welcoming and inclusive community for all.
Harmony on the Plains brings together local families, schools, performers and cultural groups for an evening of music, dance, art and shared experiences.
Community members are invited to bring a picnic rug or chair and enjoy a family‑friendly program suitable for all ages.
Harmony On The Plains
When: Friday, March 20
Where: Moree Public School
Time: 6pm-8.30pm, with gates opening at 5.30pm
About The Welcome Experience
The Welcome Experience, delivered by Moree Plains Shire Council, is a free concierge-style service to support essential workers and their families to feel more at home in their new community through personalised support, local information and connections.
A two-year program, fully funded by the NSW Government, the Welcome Experience is now provided in 55 Local Government Areas in regional New South Wales.
To find out more, go to The Welcome Experience.
