MORE than $230,000 will be donated to BlazeAid to support producers recovering from the recent floods as part of the North Queensland Flood Drive organised through AuctionsPlus and The Herd Online.
After almost two months of fundraising, $233,475.28 has been raised through AuctionsPlus sale listings, cattle sold through saleyards across Australia and direct donations.
In addition to this figure, Landmark also donated $60,000 while some cattle sales and remaining donations are expected to be finalised within the next week.
The fundraiser was aimed at directly supporting North Queensland producers, and despite trying seasonal conditions in other parts of the country, it was members of the agriculture industry who led the show of support.
Organiser and agri-marketing web business The Herd Online's Sam Levett said donations had flowed in from across the country.
"Considering the balance of this money has come out of areas that are obviously in significant drought or been in fire or floods themselves, I think it's a really great outcome," he said.
"$94,000 was AuctionsPlus sales online, $30,000 was sitting (in the account) from direct donations and a few other agent donations, and the balance was virtually out of the saleyards."
As a former chopper pilot in the north, Mr Levett had been inclined to support the flood victims after hearing of their struggles from his mates.
He began ringing agents and clients for their support and before long had the backing of AuctionsPlus, Elders, Landmark, Rural Co, Ray White, RMA, AgForce and the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association. Even the country's big agricultural mastheads, including The Land, jumped on board.
"We are all impacted by it whether it was from seeing it on socials or the news," he said.
"I think everyone wanted to do something, sometimes someone has just got to ask the question of; do you want to put some money in?"
He was pleased to see many other organisations and events following in their footsteps and keeping the fundraising momentum going.
Direct donations can still be made to Blaze Aid, the official partner of the campaign, via www.blazeaid.com.au/donations or at BSB: 633-000 Acc: 150256717.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
