After nearly being cancelled, the McGrath Foundation Pink Lamb Auction raised more than double its normal figure on Monday.
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About $10,000 was raised from the eight donated lambs and 20 bales of prime lucerne hay.
Organiser Shane Dolton said in the 10 years the auction has been held, the amount raised averaged between $4000 to $6000.
"The country is a funny place. When people are down on their knees, they still give. They know just because there's a drought on, cancer doesn't stop," he said.
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While he had doubts about running the auction this year, Mr Dolton said he was talked into it.
"This year I wasn't going to do it because of the drought and the farmers from Trangie and Narromine said, 'Shane keep it up and we'll keep it going'," he said.
Two of the lambs were purchased by Kylie Walsh from Sydney.
She was in Dubbo for a shopping trip with her DiJONES colleagues when they heard about the charity event. Late on Sunday night they decided to attend.
"It's very close to my heart because I was diagnosed with cancer three years ago," Ms Walsh said.
She is also from the bush herself, having grown up between Boggabri and Narrabri.
"My dad is an old cow cocky so you wait until I ring and say I've paid $2000 for a sheep. It'll be interesting on the other end of the phone. But it's a great cause so it's nice to get amongst it and see so many good things happening in the drought," Ms Walsh said.
The sheep she purchased were donated back and sold, while the 20 bales of hay Ms Walsh purchased will go to her family's property.
The money will help fund Dubbo's two breast care nurses and Mr Dolton said he hoped to get more for the region.
In addition to the lamb auction, $2500 was raised for the McGrath Foundation on Sunday at the Narromine Golf Club's pink day.
On January 4 will be the Pink Pigeon Twilight Bowls in Trangie, followed by the pink pigeon race on January 5.
"A year that's filled with misery could turn to joy for some people," Mr Dolton said.
"I've never had breast cancer, none of my family have ever had breast cancer, but I think it's a great cause."
Orlander Ruming
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
