Tractors and trailers are not the standard tools used in cancer research, but this August 26 local farmers will be doing their part to raise funds for cancer research through a massive Combined Clearing Sale for Cancer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The small rural village of Caragabal will be hosting the event, and because local stock and station agents are generously donating their time and skills, a small percentage of the sale price will go to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
Karen Pollock, fundraising co-ordinator, has been overwhelmed by the generosity being shown already; “We are so lucky, CJ Anderson and Aston and Joyce from Grenfell and Forbes Livestock all jumped at the chance to be involved, so the major cost of the sale is taken care of, allowing us to take a small percentage for cancer research”.
The event will be run entirely by volunteers, and is shaping up to be an enormous day with early indications pointing to an impressive line-up of machinery.
When asked what prompted the fundraising effort, Karen is a bit sheepish,
“I’d love to say that I’m a noble and altruistic person, but I went through treatment for aggressive triple negative breast cancer last year, and to be honest, I’d rather poke a stick in my eye than go through that again, we have some of the most brilliant minds in the world working on cancer treatments, and nothing happens without money. We want that research happening here in Australia so that we get the benefits from the trials and the treatments first!”
The anticipated large size of the sale has prompted the organising committee to get technology onside.
“We’ll be using a secret auction app to allow people to view the majority of the items online in the lead up to the sale, and punters may even be able to bid on smaller items in the lead up to the sale. The platform that we have chosen is very flexible, allowing pre-bids, setting maximum bids and transitioning to the live event, so that we can adjust the set-up for the smoothest running of the day” Karen explained.
As is the country way, the clearing sale will also be a social occasion, with plenty of people around for a yarn, bar and canteen facilities, as well as a club dinner available after the sale.
“Caragabal is well known for making any event into a social event. Anyone would think that we don't have much to do in our little metropolis!” Karen joked.
Any businesses that would like to be involved are very welcome, and the clearing sale committee will be taking entries of machinery right up to the week before the sale.
For inquiries contact Karen at clearingsale4cancer@gmail.com, on 0400809166 or on the event Facebook page; @combinedclearingsale.