Among the thousands of chief executives and business leaders who roughed it out to draw attention to the plight of Australia’s homless during last Saturday night’s St Vincent De Paul CEO Sleepout were three well known rural CEOs.

Australian Country Choice’s David Foote, Cattle Council of Australia’s David Inall and the National Farmer’s Federation’s Matt Linnegar all braved a cold night out in the open sleeping on cardboard to raise money for the cause.

David Foote finished with total donations of $5845, David Inall with $5705 and Matt Linnegar with $2475, raising more than $14,000 between them.

Mr Inall said sleeping out in freezing Canberra temperatures was worth it for the overwhelming support received for the campaign, and is already planning next year’s fund raising assault.

A 2006 survey found there were 105,000 homeless Australians, and more than 30pc are under the age of 18.

Last Saturday night’s event was the most the most successful yet, raising over $5m for the cause across Australia .

Among the rich and powerful to participate in this year’s challenge were Federal backbencher and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who raised $27,320, federal coalition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull ($37,430),  and Westpac chief executive officer Gaily Kelly ($135,205).