The latest charity wool auction for Ronald McDonald House, Westmead, NSW, has brought the total amount of money raised for the facility to more than $300,000.
Quality Wool ran the auction in Melbourne, which raised $78,600 from 67 bales, donated by NSW woolgrowers.
That pushed the total to $303,600, in the six years the auction has been running.
NSW area manager Anthony Windus said proceeds from the sale would benefit seriously ill patients, attending the Westmead Children’s Hospital.
“Everything sold above the valuation,” Mr Windus said.
“With the market being as good as it is, it went really well.
“A lot of growers donated whole lots to it, which was pretty impressive.
“A lot of growers would have donated $2000 of wool or more.”
With the wool market delivering prices of more than 2000 cents a kilogram, Mr Windus said Quality Wool was confident this year’s auction would push the overall total raised over $300,000.
Earlier this year, a new $34 million Ronald McDonald House facility opened on the hospital grounds.
RMH Westmead executive officer Belinda Woolford said it was almost three times the size of the previous house.
“Opening just three months ago, we are almost full every night, which shows the urgent need for families, in these communities,” Ms Woolford said.
“The funds raised from the wool auction will allow us to continue to support and house these families for as little as one night, to a week, or even months at a time,” she said.
The larger facility had increased the number of families able to be supported from 18 to 60, alleviating issues in 2017, which saw 400 families turned away.
Mr Windus said Victoria Wool Processors bought 22 of the 67 bales.
“They are always supporting us, very well, with this charity,” Mr Windus said.