Auctioneer Jack Kelly (with arm raised) sells farm goods at Cooramook Hall to raise money for Peter’s Project.
AUCTIONING off farm machinery from a country hall was a good escape from Darwin’s wet season for Daryl McKenna.
For the past week he has been busy moving about 350 auction items into the Cooramook Hall in Grassmere — his old home town.
Four years ago he held a similar auction there for depression charity beyondblue, but shortly after his friend Peter Jellie died from cancer.
The subsequent Peter’s Project campaign to build an integrated south-west cancer treatment centre was something that weighed on Mr McKenna.
“He was a very close friend and I grew up with him — it was a tragedy that he lost his life, but it’s a good legacy,” Mr McKenna said. “We’re doing it for him.”
Encouraged by the cash they raised for beyond blue, organisers gave the auction another shot yesterday and sold everything except the farm.
“We had everything from farm machinery to miscellaneous items like motorbikes and lawnmowers,” Mr McKenna said.
On the higher end, a tractor went for $26,500 with 10 per cent to go towards the donation tally. The auction raised $16,000 for the cancer centre.
As volunteers tallied up the funds raised yesterday evening, Mr McKenna put his feet up and enjoyed a beer. “It grew out of proportion,” he said.
“I’ll have to have a committee next time.”
Mr McKenna also thanked the Lions clubs of Warrnambool and Koroit for catering the event.
s.mccomish@fairfaxmedia.com.au