AUSTRALIAN Livestock and Property Agents Association (ALPA) members across the nation help various charities by volunteering their skills, organising charity auctions of donated livestock or through a range of other fundraising activities.
It is almost part and parcel of being an agent and that's why the ALPA charity auction at the Young Auctioneers Competition dinner has become a tradition providing much entertainment and goodwill over the years.
ALPA chief executive Andy Madigan said it was not uncommon for more than $10,000 a year to be raised during these auctions.
"The charity auction conducted by the previous year's winner of the ALPA National Young Auctioneers Comp- etition is an opportunity to showcase the quality and talent that will be on show at the ALPA competition the next day at the Royal Sydney Show, while at the same time raising we are raising funds for worthy charities," he said.
"There's been any many of worthy charities supported over the years, including Royal Flying Doctor Service, Beyond Blue, Buy a Bale, McGrath Foundation and Red Cross."
"Last year the ALPA board made the decision to support a single charity for all young auctioneer dinner charity auctions throughout the year.
"The chosen charity was Angel Flight and more than $16,000 was raised along with and $14,000 for various other charities at other ALPA events in 2014."
ALPA chooses to support charities active in rural and regional Australia.
"It is the opportunity to give a little back both financially and also to promote the charity to a wider audience.
Mr Madigan said recommendations for charities to benefit from the auctions are put to the ALPA board for consideration, with the announcement of the selected charity made at the ALPA annual general meeting.
"The decision was made to support a single charity during the 12-month period because it provides greater exposure and promotion for the chosen charity as mention is made of this charity across all Young Auctioneer Competitions.
Mr Madigan said the goodwill brought out by the charity auction extended from those who donate items to be auctioned to those who bid.
"On numerous occasions the winner of the lucky door prize, which can be a pair of R.M. Williams boots or an Akubra hat, have donated the items back to be auctioned."
"We all know the money is going to a good cause and agents bid enthusiastically to support those charities."
For this year's dinner the charity is Australia's largest Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research centre at Macquarie University Hospital.
Up for auction will be a signed 2014 Australian Rugby Union ball; a signed 2012 VB Tour British Isles Australian squad bat; dinner for four at Parliament House; one nights accommodation at the Park Royal Hotel; R.M. Williams boots, and a signed 2015 Sydney Swans ball.
MND is on the rise in Australia and there is also an over-representation of MND patients in some small rural towns, which is a current focus of the centre's research.
"If you were to dream up the cruellest disease imaginable, MND is what you'd create," Mr Madigan said.
Every day, two Australians are diagnosed with MND.
"If you were sitting at the Melbourne Cricket ground at capacity, 550 people around you will die of MND," he said.
In addition, ALPA's fundraising activities will also be directed to Macquarie University Hospital's Prostate Cancer research.
This research is currently looking at biomarkers of the disease to help predict the expected severity for patients.