Caretaker couple Two Young Nomads hit road to help drought-stricken families

Newlyweds Meg and Ollie Clothier hit the road days before Christmas, heading first to Ilfracombe in a bid to give producers a much deserved break.

Farm caretakers are nothing new and some such as Farmsitters and WWOOF exist to help connect landowners with willing volunteer workers.

But the Clothiers have chosen to take their trip straight to social media, using the name Two Young Nomads to spread the word about their trip.

While Mrs Clothier is an occupational therapist and Mr Clothier husband is a fully qualified boilermaker, they both come from farming families in South Australia in the Orroroo and Lucindale regions respectively.

"Watching my family along with many other people throughout South Australia, NSW and Queensland suffer through the drought made us want to do something," Mrs Clothier said.

"We've dedicated 2020 to offering caretaking to farms across Australia.

"We think it's an important initiative and if it inspires anyone else to do their bit, that would be great because Aussie farmers are the backbone of our country."

All they're asking in exchange for their caretaking stints is a tank full of diesel to get them to their next destination and accommodation.

"If we do need to work, we can pick it up wherever we go," Mrs Clothier said.

In the process the couple, who only got married two months ago, can expect to have the experience of a lifetime.

After spending Christmas in the Ilfracombe and Longreach area, they will travel back down to Coonamble, NSW for their next posting.

"It's sort of like a working honeymoon," Mrs Clothier said.

"We've been inundated with messages from farmers or from their children, looking for a way to give their parents a break.

"I still have a fair few emails to go through.

"So far it's mainly been Queensland and NSW but we have had one email come through from Alice Springs.

"It's very exciting, it's something different and something we really wanted to do."