More than 140 Victorian wool producers did their part for the rural communities last week, as the annual Australian Fleece competition charity lots went under the hammer.
And with the proceeds this year going to flood and fire disaster assistance non-for-profit organisation BlazeAid, they might one day personally benefit from the donation.
Landmark sold eight bales at the Melbourne Wool Exchange last Wednesday, making about $11,500 for the charity.
BlazeAid secretary Dick Patterson said the best part of the donation was the amount of help each dollar could provide. Every dollar made from the wool goes to the volunteers, with $60 worth of fencing constructed for every $1 made.
Having raised more the $15 million for rural families affected by fire and flood since being established in 2009, Mr Patterson said there was a continued need for BlazeAid services. "It was put together after the Black Saturday fires, and we were expecting it would be needed sporadically, but we have disasters, be it fire or flood, every year since," he said.
Landmark senior wool manager and competition convenor Athol Fredrick said there was excellent competition from wool exporters on the charity wool. Seven different buyers purchased the eight lots offered, with Modiano paying to 1220 cents a kilogram greasy to secure the toppriced bale (c/kg).
The bale of wool was 15.3 micron, with a comfort factor of $99.8 per cent, and made $1525. Other buyers included Donghai, PJ Morris, Lempriere, Fox & Lilley, Sefard Masurel and Chinatex.
Donghai purchased the top lot when it came to gross price, paying $1670 for a bale of 17.4M wool weighing 181kg, equating to 923c/kg greasy. The eight bales, which ranged from 15.3-20.3M, sold for an average $1398 per bale, or 837c/kg.
