Successful bidders from the AWA charity auction included Anthony Winter, Macquarie Wagyu left (Ariat package), David Camm, Camm Agriculture (Beef Central advertising package) and Jane Hughes, Hughes Grazing (Beef Central Cattle Baron and Great Aussie Cattle Quiz board games) with guest auctioneer, Dr Enoch Bergman.

A CHARITY auction to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Wagyu Industry Fellowship program held during the annual Wagyu Edge Conference in Melbourne this week raised a combined $67,000 for the causes.

A selection of ten items was put up for competition, hosted by guest auctioneer, WA-based cattle vet Dr Enoch Bergman.

Topping the auction items this year at $14,000 was a set of artisan Japanese steak knives and cutting board bought by Peter and Jane Hughes, Hughes Grazing.

Next best at $12,500 was a tour of Tasmania’s famous Robbins Island annual muster for two people, bought by artificial breeding practitioner, Ced Wise and wife Rowena, while a pair of hand-crafted Wagyu hide stockwhips was bought by Stone Axe Pastoral for $10,000.

Beef Central offered two items for the auction – an advertising package bought by David Camm, Camm Agriculture for $3500 and a pair of Cattle Baron and Great Aussie Cattle Quiz board games secured by Peter and Jane Hughes for $1000.

Macquarie Wagyu’s Anthony Winter took a liking to a selection of goods from Ariat Australia, buying the package for $2000, while a hand-painted Travis Collins guitar capable of playing both types of music – country, and western – was bought by Bar-H Grazing for $2000.

A cheque for half this year’s proceeds – $33,500 – was presented to RFDS Victoria chief executive Scott Chapman and general manager of Marketing and Fundraising RFDS Victoria, Marie Quirke. Joining them were AWA representatives, Matt McDonagh, Charlie Perry and Emily Rabone

A package of ten semen straws of Yulong Gold Digger S004 was bought by Wagyu Sekai for $6000, while a selection of eight Gold Medal winning steaks from this year’s Wagyu Branded Beef Competition went to Peter and Jane Hughes for $8000; and an MIJ Mobile Camera with 500 free images and setup was secured for $6000 by Brian Wagyu.

The AWA has been donating to the Royal Flying Doctor Service since its conference in 2016 through an annual charity auction held at the breed’s annual conference. Previous funds raised for the RFDS, from four years of donations (2020 and 2021 cancelled due to COVID) have totalled $144,370.

A cheque for half this year’s proceeds – $33,500 – was presented to RFDS Victoria chief executive Scott Chapman and general manager of Marketing and Fundraising RFDS Victoria, Marie Quirke.