Guyra farmer Tony Looker only needed $1000 to take part in a four-wheel-drive outback odyssey, raising funds for the Westpac rescue chopper – but a sheep drive on Wednesday raised nearly four grand.
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And grand was how Mr Looker felt.
“It’s very exciting that the community can donate lambs like that, and make that much money for Westpac in such a short time,” he said.
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Mr Looker is taking part in the 2018 Drover’s Run Outback Adventure, a nine-day trek across outback Australia in August that hopes to raise $50,000 for the helicopter.
The chopper flies nearly 2000 missions a year, attending accident sites, taking patients to hospital, and helping to find missing people – all free of charge to users.
Paul Harris of Elders Rural Services auctioned off four pens' worth of sheep and lambs at the Guyra saleyards yesterday, donated by clients of all the agents in town. The animals were sold at premium prices, without commission, raising $3780 for the helicopter.
Drover’s Run co-ordinator Jeff Galbraith was delighted with the result.
"We've asked for a minimum of $1000 in fundraising,” he said, “but what we find is that so many of the entrants really grab the opportunity and go hard. After they realise how quickly you can make that $1000, they just keep going, and a lot of them go that $4 or $5000 and above.
“That’s sensational, because every bit of that money goes straight back to the helicopter. It doesn't pay for any part of the trip, it's all just keeping those helicopters in the air."
Thanks to the stocksale and donations, Mr Looker has raised nearly $4500 so far – and hopes to raise $10,000.
"I've still got some more things to pick up," Mr Looker said; "I've got a one-ton and a two-ton and a three-ton load of wood to raffle yet. I'm going to run that for a couple of months before we go before we draw it, so it's another little thing I've got up my sleeve! Bit of luck, I'll get up around that 10 grand before I go. I'm hoping; that's my aim!"
If you are interested in sponsoring Tony Looker, you can call him on 0429 681 238, or donate online at https://droversrun2018.go-fundraise.com.au/page/Tony-Looker.