Buyers flocked to the Gunnedah Poultry Club’s sixth annual Purebred Poultry Auction on Saturday, which raises vital funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
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More than 175 bidders were registered on the day, with buyers hailing from as far as Miles and Chinchilla in Queensland and western New South Wales to Benalla in Victoria.
In excess of $8900 was raised for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, including $6050 in donated lots from various vendors and just over $2900 of commission and pen fees also contributed to the service.
The local Westpac Rescue volunteers manned a barbecue raising a further $3000 for the cause.
An average of $120 was made from 336 lots sold on the day by Garvin and Cousens’ auctioneers.
A top of $800 was knocked down to James Armitage of Armidale, for five Buff Sussex pullets and a cockerel, with proceeds from this lot donated to the Westpac Rescue Helictoper Service.
Local poultry club breeders had a successful day, with Mike Finlay banking $450 for a trio of silver laced wyandottes and Jason Harris taking home $190 for two blue laced gold wyandotte pullets.
Young vendors Fletcher and Claire Wilby made $180 for a trio of light sussex bantams, while Felicity Mammen donated the proceeds from a black silkie cock bird and six hens ($150) to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
The service benefited from a sale of eight farmyard pullets to be shared between local buyers Dan Martin and Jarad Ewing, which made an impressive $500.
The auction offered a wide variety of breeds of poultry, as well as ducks, turkeys, pheasants, quails, doves, pigeons and guinea fowl.
Poultry sale co-ordinator and auctioneer Bert Hewitt said the sale is becoming stronger every year, with great quality poultry on display.
“It was an enjoyable day, with a strong showing of community support for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service,” Mr Hewitt said.
“We saw buyers coming from far and wide which shows how popular the sale has become.
“It was a great team effort from the poultry club to result in a successful sale.”
Westpac Rescue Gunnedah Support Group President, Pam Bradford said the group is very appreciative of the support received on the day.
“We are very grateful to both the Gunnedah Poultry Club and Garvin and Cousens and wish to thank these organisations for their ongoing support,” Mrs Bradford said.
