ALAN and Jennifer Acton, Wilpeena, Dingo, hope their luck holds for a few more days after winning a spirited bidding duel for a slice of charity art on June 12.
As members and guests of the Rockhampton Cattle Club celebrated the return of commercial cattle to the annual show, the Actons dug deep to buy a print of Mark Coombe's "Up From Here" which commemorates the mateship and support enveloping 2019 flood victims.
With Joel Dawson, Brian Dawson Auctions, calling the shots, the Actons were pushed to $12,000 and were pleased to secure the print.
The proceeds will support mental health initiatives delivered by the Royal Flying Doctor Service through the Wellness Out West program.
RFDS chief operating officer Andrew Barron said the Acton's donation could underwrite various aspects of the WOW program, including field days involving health engaging producers, their families and friends in holistic health forums.
The Acton's hope for raceday luck with their three-year-old filly Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom-Pure Perfection), which remains on track to contest the $500,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 22.
If she starts, the Tiara will be the fourth assignment for Outback Barbie in this campaign which opened on May 11 with a fifth at Doomben.
A close seventh in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup on May 25 followed, before Outback Barbie produced a career low point for 11th in the Dane Ripper Stakes, over the Tiara course, on June 8.
"We found she had a little problem after her last run," Mr Acton said.
"It was her worst ever run and perhaps that was the reason. She is good now and we are pressing on but fingers crossed."
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
