Our Story

We are a family-based business in Bathurst, N.S.W. who design and create custom artisanal candle vessels as a way to support my Dad through his journey with Post Polio Syndrome. Each unique piece we create tells a story of resilience, determination, community and purpose.

Our journey started in 2022 with a recognition of Dad’s declining mobility and the resulting impact on his well-being. I asked Dad if he would help me create a concrete bowl for candles in an attempt to keep him doing something ‘hands on’ in the shed but more manageable -and we failed and failed and failed. I honestly thought we must have been the only people in Australia that couldn’t make concrete set! We persevered and by October 2023 we had finally nailed it, with a background in engineering Dad was loving the process in perfecting every step of creating his bowls.

Meet my Dad- we call him ‘Pop’.

Tenacious, driven, resilient, loves his own jokes (and there’s lots of them), is always up for a project in his shed and jumps at a trip to Bunnings, especially if there is a snag on offer. Mostly he is humble, would help anyone out and doesn’t like fuss.

Born in 1951 in Bathurst, NSW, as the youngest of 12 children he contracted Polio as an 18 month old, at the same time his 6 year old Brother, Tommy, also had Polio and passed away. At age 12, he spent a year in the Royal Far West Children’s Hospital in Manly for numerous surgeries on his ‘little’ leg as we call it. Journeying home to Charbon on the Mudgee Mail Train by himself he was greeted late into the night by his dog and walked up the street home. It’s fair to say life has had its challenges.

The effects of polio are life long and the late effects of Post Polio Syndrome mean managing a constant decline in mobility along with debilitating fatigue, joint and muscle pain. Falls are a bit of a thing at the moment. His attitude is all about ‘cracking on’ and he never complains.

With a love for tinkering in the shed he has designed and built everything from go karts, custom kids cars, trailers, cubby houses, machinery and more. His physical challenges have never been an excuse but a driver. Growing up he would always say to me “imagine what you could do if you tried”.

With the big projects now not possible our family is supporting Dad to remain active in his shed doing more manageable projects. Our concrete candles have evolved as a way for us as a family to support Dad during this time and connect with our local community.

Our Name

Lupstone (Loop-stone) is a combination of my parent’s surname, Hailstone, and the surname of my husband and I, Lupish. For over a decade we have referred to ourselves as ‘Team Lupstone’ when doing projects around the house, so it was a natural choice for us when it came to finding a business name that represented who we are.

Our vision if to have a piece of Dad’s story in every home through his candle vessels as a reminder of the importance of connection, community and purpose.