Gippsland woolgrowers raised almost $10,000 for Helimed1 when they donated premium merino fleeces to be auctioned by Elders in Melbourne last week.
The 170kg bale of average 18.6 micron wool, valued at 1040 cents-a-kilogram, was bought by wool buying company Modiano’s Lou Morsch, at the fall of the auctioneers’ hammer, for 5500 c/kg.
Mr Morsch told Stock & Land, the Modiano family regularly supported Australian rural services and in the past had bought wool bales auctioned on behalf of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Epilepsy Foundation. “They generally set a limit and leave it up to me to make the winning bid,” he said. Other monetary donations collected at the Alpine Shears competition held at the Omeo show and from a woolgrowers raffle raised $401.40, taking the total to $9,751.40. The donation would buy necessary equipment for Victoria’s five emergency medical-care helicopters. “That sort of money can buy three defibrillators or half the cost of a portable ultrasound machine, or go towards the cost of many other items, like blood transfusion equipment,” said Helimed1 auxiliary member, Les Campbell.
That sort of money can buy three defibrillators or half the cost of a portable ultrasound machine, or go towards the cost of many other items, like blood transfusion equipment
- Les Campbell, Helimed1 auxiliary member
“The government provides the helicopters but we rely on charity to equip them.”
It was the second consecutive year that woolgrowers competing in the Omeo show fleece competition donated their entries to charity.
Show steward Belinda Smith and Elders Gippsland wool manager Mal Nicholls organised the donations and auction respectively.