Held in the Wagga Wagga livestock selling complex, 18 trainee auctioneers were guided through their paces during the annual ALPA livestock auctioneering school.
Facilitated by Liz Summerville, ALPA southern regional manager with the assistance of Charlie Elliot, ALPA and Brendan Wade, past president ALPA but now contracted to MLA preparing market reports, the annual event allows the trainee auctioneers to further hone their skills and learn from the experience of the various presenters.
“We were fortunate to have Brendan as one of our presenters introducing the trainees to what is happening in MLA,” Ms Summerville said.
“He was also representing MLA who are one of our sponsors.”
Ms Summerville acknowledged the breadth of knowledge of the presenters and said ALPA appreciates them taking time from a busy schedule to mentor the trainees.
“Each year we have a terrific group interested in an agency career, and this year Tom Pollard who is the NSW young auctioneer came to practice his skills,” she said.
Other presenters from southern stock and station agencies where on hand to provide guidance and support for the trainees as they extended their knowledge of the art of auctioneering livestock.
They included:
Geoff Rice, director of Langlands Hanlon Parkes
Alex Croker, livestock agent, H.F Francis & Co Wagga
Joe Wilks, auctioneer and livestock manager, Elders Wagga
Tim Drum, director RLA Wagga
Gavin Bradey, agent with Rawlinson & Brown, Griffith
Luke Deimal, auctioneer and livestock sales consultant, Paull & Scollard Albury/Wodonga
Participants in auctioneers school –
Tim Beach, P.T Lord Dakin, Dubbo
Adam Boyd, G.J Hulm &Co, Wagga Wagga
Brent Coster, Gerrard & Partners Livestock, Young
Matt Hawker, H Francis & Co, Wagga Wagga
Ben McCalman, Delta Livestock & Property, Young
Jess Spencer, Spencer & Bennett – Yenda Prods, Griffith
Cooper Byrnes, Langlands Hanlon, Parkes
Hugh Edwards, Carter Lindsay Weber, Dubbo
Scott Hall, Delta Livestock & Property, Young
William Jennings, Paull & SCollard, Albury
Kyle Sturgess, Landmark, West Wyalong
Sam Fardell, Delta Livestock & Property, Young
Peter Fisk, Rawlinson & Brown, Hillston
Jake McKenzie, MD & JJ Anderson Pty Ltd, Crookwell
Tom Pollard, Peter Milling & Co, Dubbo
Chris Powyer, Gerrard & Partners Livestock, Young
Jake Smith, Elders, Gundagai
Shannon Wicks, Landmark, Wagga Wagga
One of the participants, Tom Pollard, Peter Milling & Co, Dubbo won a major award at the Young Auctioneers competition of the recent Royal Easter Show, under the Elders Past Co guidance.
Following that success he joined the renowned local private agency firm of Peter Milling and Co under the mentorship of Peter Milling and his staff and is to be based in Dubbo.
Mr Pollard will be representing NSW during the forthcoming national young auctioneers competition.
“I have always wanted to be an auctioneer, from the time I was a kid growing up with my grandfather who worked in the saleyards at Dubbo,” he said.
“I got into the industry nearly four years ago and haven’t looked back.
“It’s something I’ve always loved, it’s my passion.”
Mr Pollard said he gets a lot of satisfaction from getting up on the rail and doing a good job selling livestock for clients.
“Peter Milling & Co are supporting me coming to this school and trying to make me a better auctioneer,” He said.
“You get a lot our of this school … the speech therapists and other agents who are here … you pick pointers up from everyone.”
