The drought could not stop the fun at Nanua at the weekend, celebrating its 73rd year of horse racing in the red dirt, and raising awareness for victims of bullying and mental health.
Far from the glitz and glamour of the Spring Racing Carnival, the Nanua Races are held on the dry, red pastoral land of Kimberley Station, 170 kilometres east of Broken Hill.
Ashley Strachan lives on Tulney Point Station, near the small town of Pooncarie in south-western New South Wales, which is two and a half hours from the Nanua Races.
She has just finished year 12 and the issues of bullying and mental health are close to her heart.
"I don't want to lose any of my mates. It really hits home for people out here because Dolly was just like us," she said.
"It's a big problem in schools, which is sad, but the whole reason for a day like today is to help kids who are struggling with depression and bullying, and they just need to realise that there is always someone there for them."
The action-packed day this year had a powerful motivation behind it — raising money for the Dolly's Dream Foundation.
Dolly's Dream was set up in memory of Amy 'Dolly' Everett, aged 14, who took her life after an extended period of bullying and cyberbullying.
It isn't just in the school yard that people struggle with depression or opening up about a personal battle they might be going through. The drought that is devastating parts of the country is having a big impact on the mental health of farmers.
Families from all around Australia came to the country picnic race meeting to enjoy a day of racing and see friends and family they have not had time for in recent months, as the drought consumes most of their free time.
Secretary of the Nanua Picnic Races, Lee-Anne Bright, said it was important for people who were working on the dry stations and were battling through the drought to come to events like these in their communities and have a chance to talk about what they're going through.
"It's something to keep you going, I think you need to look out for yourself sometimes when times are tough and doing something for charity makes you feel good inside," she said.
"The people who come from all over often come earlier to lend a helping hand for a couple of days to the people on the stations.
"If someone looks like they may struggle to get to the races on the weekend, people roll their sleeves up and help each other to make sure as many people can have the weekend off and enjoy a time with friends and family."
Chairman of the Nanua Race Club, Des Kennedy, said the day was a fantastic event to be involved in and everyone was excited be a part of something that could help make a big difference to mental health issues in the outback.
"We always try to raise money for different organisations like the Royal Flying Doctors, but the Dolly Day for us was very special," he said.
"It's great for the bushies to get away from it all and come and have some fun, we've had about 500 through the gates and I think we should raise a fair bit of money for Dolly."
