Sweet Triumph: Grant provides recipe for recovery for Mossman bakery
Natural disasters can reshape communities, but they also reveal the resilience and strength within.
This was certainly the case for Duke’s Doughnuts, a beloved artisan bakehouse in Mossman, which faced ruin when Tropical Cyclone Jasper struck Far North Queensland in late 2023.
Renowned for their handcrafted treats and strong community connections, Michael and Sally Miller’s dream bakery was hit hard, as floodwaters surged into their premises, destroying the critical equipment needed to keep their doors open.
It was a devastating blow, with reopening seeming impossible.
But a $20,000 Small Business Exceptional Assistance Grant, funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), provided a recipe for recovery for Duke’s Doughnuts.
Designed to help small businesses recover after disasters, the grant enabled the bakery to replace essential baking infrastructure and begin the long road to recovery.
By mid-2024, Duke’s Doughnuts was not only operational again but thriving, baking their signature offerings with care and creativity.
The bakery also re-established its community role in Mossman, resuming its school breakfast program and providing the community with a comforting sense of normalcy after the cyclone.
Today, Duke’s Doughnuts is flourishing as a proud testament to the resilience of small businesses and the Mossman community.
The recovery story of Duke’s emphasises how timely support like DRFA funding can transform despair into strength.
Whether it’s replacing vital infrastructure or bringing people together over shared experiences, it’s proof that resilience and community spirit can make all the difference.
The DRFA Small Business Exceptional Assistance Grant is part of a $64 million disaster recovery package jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments – helping businesses like Duke’s Doughnuts to rebuild, thrive, and create a brighter tomorrow.