The Bald Blair Public School P&C Association and the livestock selling agents in the Armidale Guyra area organized a lamb drive to help Peta and her family with ongoing medical costs. 

“It was a collective effort from the community and all the selling agents in New England,” Sarah Hancock, P&C treasurer, and friend and neighbour to the Kerrs, said.

Farmers donated 37 heads of lamb, and 35 had been sold at last count, Ms Hancock said, with only two ewes left to be sold.  The drive had raised $3,655 so far, with two cash donations still to be counted.  Ms Hancock expected the total to be a little over $4,000.

“I didn't have a set goal as such, but I had hoped to reach 30 head of lamb, and we were kindly donated 37, so it was more than I had expected or hoped for.”

The money raised will help pay for Peta and her family to go to Brisbane for 40 days at the end of March for hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which will help Peta’s body to recover from chemotherapy.

“I would very much like to thank the Guyra farming community for their generous donations of lambs today,” Ms Hancock said.  “And thank you to the New England Livestock Agents, the saleyard manager and office manager for all coming on board and offering to help organise and run this fundraiser.  This was very much a team effort, and would not be possible without everyone’s help.”

Peta was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, in May last year, with bleeding on the brain caused by a tumor.  She is the middle child in her family, and is in Year 5 at Bald Blair Primary School.

“Bald Blair Primary School is a small community comprising 13 families, so to have the support of the wider community is invaluable,” Ms Hancock said.

The Guyra community has rallied round the Kerr family over the last few months, raising funds at school and through cycling events.  A raffle to be drawn in March has already raised $1,100.