Auctioneer Todd Donaldson works hard to keep up with bids during yesterday’s AA Co Dolly’s Dream Long Lunch in Brisbane. Click on images for a larger view

BEEF industry stakeholders forked out an incredible $255,486 in support of the Dolly’s Dream charity yesterday, as part of the Australian Agricultural Co’s annual ‘Long Lunch’ fundraiser.

More than 350 stakeholders gathered in Brisbane for the event – the fourth held since 2022. Last year’s event hit a tally of $206,000, but this year smashed that mark by almost $50,000.

Dolly’s Dream was created in 2019 by Northern Territory couple Kate and Tick Everett following the tragic loss of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly, to suicide, after ongoing bullying. The charity seeks to change the culture in bush communities by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide in regional Australia, through education and direct support for young people and families.

The auction items up for grabs yesterday (details below) raised an incredible $190,000. In addition to that, table donations from lunch guests raised a further $40,000, and a multi-prize raffle, an additional $25,175.

These figures do not include a series of satellite Dolly’s Dream fundraisers held across AA Co stations and feedlots recently (numbers yet to be tallied).

Handing over the keys to the mini-excavator especially painted in Dolly-Dream blue was Hastings Deering major ag account manager Wayne Partridge, right, with buyer Georgie Gibson, Gibson Grazing Dalby, with AA Co’s Sam Graham.

Hot competition for donated items

There was red-hot competition for the ten generously items auctioned yesterday, including outback station experiences, attendance packages at major sporting events, plant and stock handling equipment, premium wine, livestock stock transport packages and a magnificent smoker BBQ.

The auction was held live in the room, with remote bidding provide through StockLive.

Talented auctioneer Todd Donaldson from Elders kept the crowd entertained and the bids flowing.

Lunch-goers enjoyed slow-cooked beef brisket Wellingtons from AA Co’s branded beef programs, washed down with a nice bottle of red. Platinum event sponsors this year included Nutrien, AAM, Hastings Deering and Elders.

Here’s how yesterday’s donated auction items went:

Top priced item on the day at $46,000 was a Dolly’s Dream-branded Caterpillar mini Excavator donated by Hastings Deering. From the humblest of origins in Alice Springs in 1935, the earthmoving plant and equipment giant turns 90 this year and marked the occasion with the generous auction item.

Buyers were Declan and Georgie Gibson, Gibson Grazing, Dalby (see image above, more images below).

Also attracting red-hot bidding, both online and live in the room, was the AA Co Station adventure package, visiting three AA Co properties travelling via ‘Air AA Co’s’ Pilatus aircraft. The successful bidder was live exporter Simon Jackson from StockAir, who paid $40,000.

Among the other auction items:

• An AAM Bective (Tamworth) station experience was secured for $10,500 by Angela Grant from Day One Recruitment
• Australian Country Choice head-chef Anthony Lee outlaid $12,000 for a Bullock Oak Creek offset smoker, featuring a 16” offset
• A Flemington Oaks Day Races experience went for $9000 when bought by Jamie Facer from AllSafe Mine Vehicle Equipment
• A Morrissey & Co calf cradle painted in Dolly’s Dream blue, was bought by the North Australian Pastoral Co for $13,000, repeating the same purchase last year
• Agforce Cattle board chair Shane McCarthy, Te Mana Kauri Pastoral Co, secured the British and Irish Lions Vs Qld Reds Rugby experience, including dinner at Moo Moo’s with Wallabies legends Tim Horan and Nathan Sharpe, for $12,500.
• A package comprising livestock transport to the tune of six decks over 500km donated by Road Trains Australia made $18,000, bought by Sam Harris from Gulf Coast Agricultural Co
• A magnum bottle of Penfolds Grange 2008 vintage super-premium wine went for $7000 to Tim Robinson, The Ridge, Stanthorpe, a lunch guest of the Gallagher Insurance group
• An Australian Open Tennis package including the mens’ and women’s finals plus travel and accommodation was bought by Mary McIntyre, McIntyre Agriculture, St George

Building resilience in the bush

Dolly’s father Tick Everett was in attendance at the Brisbane fundraiser, and both he and AA Co managing director Dave Harris gave heartfelt endorsements for the cause and the funds being raised.

Mr Harris told the lunch gathering that the core sentiment behind Dolly’s Dream was about building resilience in the bush – in families, children and communities.

He said Tick and Kate Everett and their children were like family to AA Co, having previously worked on several AA Co stations including Montejinni where Tick was station manager, Brunette Downs and Eva Downs.

“Our hearts broke when Dolly passed away and we still feel deeply for the Everett family. It’s a great cause, and our connection to them gives it special meaning to us,” Mr Harris said.

“Our people have thrown themselves into fundraising for Dolly’s Dream, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

“It was that connection with our people, and Tick and Kate’s relationship with our business in the past – and the work our people were already doing in the regions – that made our decision to use Dolly’s Dream as a key fundraising focus an easy one.”

Tick Everett said the support for the Dolly’s Dream cause continued to evolve. “We can’t do what we do, without the support of everyone in this room,” he said.

“We’ve all got family, and children – and our biggest message is, just be kind; it’s nothing harder than that. Look after each other, be kind, and if you’re having a bit of trouble, just speak out – even if your voice shakes.”

Successful bidder Simon Jackson from live exporter StockAir, centre, paid $40,000 for the AA Co Station adventure package. He’s pictured with AA Co’s MD David Harris, left, and Todd Wiltshire, Agricon.

Should I drink it or store it? Facing a tough choice having secured a magnum bottle of Penfolds Grange 2008 vintage super-premium wine for $7000 was Tim Robinson, The Ridge, Stanthorpe, part of the Gallagher Insurance group, with AA Co’s Allan Paiva and Meg Everett, representing Dolly’s Dream.

Securing the Morrissey calf cradle for $13,000 was the North Australian Pastoral Co’s James Carson, second from left, with Morrissey & Co’s Tim and Sally Morrissey, and Tick Everett.

Enjoying the long lunch were Todd Pepper, Alceon Private Equity and Andrew Shearer Smith, Smithfield Cattle Co, Proston.

AgForce Cattle chair Shane McCarthy, Te Mana Kauri Pastoral Co, secured the British and Irish Lions Vs Qld Reds Rugby experience, including dinner at Moo Moo’s with Wallabies legends Tim Horan and Nathan Sharpe, for $12,500. He’s pictured with AA Co’s Aaron Wakeley.

Stocklive was kept busy during the simultaneous live/online auction yesterday, with bids flying in from right across Australia