An Elders employee who raised $64,000 for the family of a deceased colleague has been recognised with a philanthropy award.
Elders farm supplies sales manager Madeleine Humphrey was awarded the prestigious Elders Give It award at the organisation's annual One Elders Awards event in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
The award, which is presented to an individual, team or branch who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to their local community, recognises Ms Humphrey's incredible fundraising efforts for former Elders employee Jason Blackwood and his family.
Mr Blackwood, a highly respected agronomist who worked at Elders Gatton for eight years, died in March after a three year battle with cancer.
He left behind a wife and three children.
Ms Humphrey started organising a community auction and set up a GoFundMe page during the final weeks of Mr Blackwood's life to help support his family.
Although Mr Blackwood lost his fight shortly before the event about 300 people from across the Lockyer Valley attended the auction at the Gatton Shire Hall, raising more than $40,000.
The GoFundMe page raised about $24,000.
Ms Humphrey said she was surprised and humbled to receive the award.
"I also received $1500 to donate to the charity of my choice, which is going to the Melanoma Institute in memory of Jason," she said.
"You feel completely useless in a time like that and we were just thinking about what could we do for his family.
"To see the community just all pull together in support of the Blackwood family was beautiful."
"We used to call Jason the canary, he was always chirping, always whistling and singing in the office.
"It was a huge loss to the community, to our team and to his family of course.
"If we could help in any way, we were going to do it."
Gatton branch manager Darren Steinhardt, who nominated Ms Humphrey for the award, said he was in awe of Ms Humphrey's selfless dedication to and support of those around her.
"Ms Humphrey is one of the most caring and generous individuals I have had the privilege to know, and she deserves recognition for her support of the Gatton community," Mr Steinhardt said.