Charity bale makes $13,000

Two bales of wool, made up of fleeces donated by growers in the Omeo district, was given to the Helimed to sell at auction.​

A busload of 36 woolgrowers, family and Elders Bairnsdale staff took a bus down to the Melbourne Woolstore to the Melbourne wool store to watch their bales be sold.

Lou Morsch from Modiano again placed the winning bid on the first bale, paying 6100 cents a kilogram.

Despite this 159kg bale including fleeces from 30 growers, it averaged 17.9 microns and had a co-efficient of variation of 10 per cent. It grossed $9699.

Techwool secured the second bale, av 18.5M, for 2500c/kg. At 141kg, this bale grossed $3525.

District wool manager Mal Nicholls congratulated the grower group for doubling the amount of wool donated in the second year of this community effort.

“But it wouldn’t be possible without the support of wool buyers.”

Mr Nicholls said the medical helicopter in East Gippsland was “essential in saving lives”.

He said East Gippsland residents had been involved in “a number of” accidents last year requiring helicopter evacuation, including his son who was flown to the Eye and Ear Hospital after an angle grinder clogged up and something hit his eye.

Mr Nicholls said last year, Helimed was able to out blood stores on their helicopters as well as ultrasound machines, that were able to scan and send images to hospitals before the patients arrived.

Mr Nicholls credited Omeo woolgrower Belinda Smith, Innisfail, with driving this fundraiser.

Ms Smith, who works with parents Alan and Noeleen, said as a member of the Omeo Show committee, she thought it would be good to tie in some fundraising to the community event.

She said her mother suggested supporting Helimed because the service has helped lots of people in their community.

She said Burt Ahsan who helps with the show’s wool events had some great ideas too.

Growers entering fleeces into the competition could chose to donate them to Helimed, and Ms Smith said she was thrilled the donations had doubled.