Thousands raised at charity stock sale

Sometimes it takes a disaster to realise how much we care about our fellow New Zealanders. Following the February 22nd earthquake there has been many stories of compassion, goodwill and ordinary New Zealanders coming together to lend a hand.

The past few weeks have been some of the darkest times in New Zealand history. As we were plunged into our first ever State of Emergency we watched the TV and listened to the radio, all the while not quite believing what we were hearing and seeing.

Alongside these initial stories of devastation and grief we’re starting to hear incredible stories of human spirit and generosity. Complete strangers have donated their time, food and homes to help victims of the earthquake.

One such example of this is the New Zealand Young Farmers North Otago District Clubs coming together to hold a stock sale at the Waiareka Sale Yards today (March 7th). They made the call to local farmers and Members to donate stock and were pretty overwhelmed by the response.

North Otago District Chairman Greig Moore was shocked at the amount of livestock donated (240 sheep and 72 cattle) and the money they managed to raise.

“I came into this thinking we’d make about $10,000 - not quite half way through it I started to think we were going to blow it out of the water.”

And blow it out of the water they did. Over $68,000 was raised with every cent to go straight to the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Fund.

Greig said that a lot of people turned out for the sale and the stock went for much higher than the usual sale price. Prime ewes sold for $184, prime lambs went for $180 and prime cattle averaged at a price of $944.77.

“One person ended up selling an angus steer for over $1300 alone.”

Greig says that thanks must be made to those that donated and bought stock and also to several trucking companies: North Otago Transport, Rural Transport, Mainland Agri Transport, Waimate Transport and Bennett Transport all donated their cartage for free.

Stock agents also gave their services for free: PGG Wrightson and Whitestone Livestock Stock Agents waived their commissions for the sale.