Mt Bathurst Poll Dorset donates proceeds of sale-topping ram to Cancer Council

Knocked down for the top price, Mt Bathurst tag 8T, was selected prior to the sale as Greg and Christine Healey's donation lot which drew interest from a number of parties that looked to support a charity that provides services and supports to cancer patients and their families.

A son of Hilden 410-18 that April 2020-drop ram weighed 105 kilograms with an eye muscle depth of 48 millimetres, an eye muscle width of 94mm, eye muscle area of 35.43 square centimetres and fat depth of 7mm.

He was part of the draft of 61 rams sold of the 81 offered that resulted in an $1131 average.

Christine Healey said began donating the proceeds of one lot in their sale annually after one of their family members were diagnosed with cancer five years ago.

"We realised the significant impact cancer had on families, and we looked at what we could do to help and centred it around annually supporting the charity through the donation of all the proceeds of one ram," she said.

RELATED READING: Mt Bathurst Poll Dorset sale 2020 results

The $2600 top-priced donation ram was purchased by long-standing clients Geoffrey and Cheryl Gilbert of The Grove, Trunkey Creek.

When asked what drew them into the ram, Mr Gilbert said "we wanted to support the Cancer Council".

The Gilberts understand the importance of charities such as the Cancer Council, having lost parents to cancer.

"The money goes to a good cause," he said.

Cancer Council community relations coordinator Cassandra Sullivan, Orange, said the Healeys typify the generous spirit farmers show.

"The Cancer Council is grateful for the support from the Healeys and from the purchasers, the Gilberts," she said.

"The money raised will go towards funding Cancer Council research, support services and programs."

In total, the Gilberts purchased two rams in the sale for an $1850 average.

"They are all round good rams with good figures... they are a pair of rams, very similar," Mr Gilbert said.

Running sheep and cattle, they join around 400 crossbred ewes to Poll Dorset rams.

"We keep coming back to the Mt Bathurst stud because the rams do well for us," he said.

"Our lambs are sold through the saleyards... we will sell the next lot of lambs around Christmas."

Mt Bathurst tag 250 was the $2200 second top-priced ram purchased by the Blackwell family near Mudgee.

The largest volume buyers were Baldrudgery Trust, Baldry, which bought eight rams averaging $1000.

Kevella Pastoral Co, Shooters Hill, purchased seven rams to average $1000 and D and L Manning, Wagga Wagga, selected six for a $1400 average.

The sale was conducted by Bowyer and Livermore, Bathurst, with Harry Phillips taking bids as the auctioneer.

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