AuctionsPlus Award Winners 2024: Recognising the best in the business

AuctionsPlus, Australia's leading online marketplace for the agricultural sector, is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 AuctionsPlus Awards.  

The winners are: 

• Top Throughput Assessor – Cattle: Katie Lewis, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, Victoria 

• Top Throughput Assessor – Sheep: Greg Downing, Spence Dix & Co, Keith, South Australia 

• Top Throughout Agency – Cattle: Nutrien Ag Solutions Boultons, Walcha, NSW 

• Top Throughout Agency – Sheep: Elders, Kingscote, South Australia 

• Top Throughout Agency – Combined: Elders, Kingston, South Australia 

• Howard Gardner Award: David Welsh, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Benalla, Victoria 

On announcing the award winners, AuctionsPlus Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wyn Snyman said that AuctionsPlus is motivated by the commitment shown by assessors to their clients, communities, and to the broader industry.  

“Their achievements underscore the vital role that AuctionsPlus plays in connecting people, markets, and opportunities. We’re proud to have each of them as ambassadors of what our platform stands for—innovation, trust, and excellence,” Mr Snyman said. 

He also announced the winners of five new categories this year, including the Young Gun Award, Industry Woman of the Year and Top Machinery Award, as well as the Gary Dick Awards for sheep and cattle. 

They are presented in honor of Gary Dick, who served as CEO of AuctionsPlus from 1987 to 2014, where he played a key role in transforming the business into the national agricultural marketplace it is known as today. The awards recognise assessors listing significant throughput, with a high clearance rate on the platform during the 2024 financial year.  

The winner of this year’s inaugural awards are: 

• Gary Dick Award – Cattle: Sam Bartlett, Adcock Partners Property & Livestock, Quilpie, Queensland 

• Gary Dick Award – Sheep: Tom Madden, TB White & Sons Pty Ltd, Delacombe, Victoria 

• Young Gun Award: Sam Christensen, CPS Thomas Ballhausen & Irvine, Dubbo, NSW 

• Industry Woman of the Year: Jenni O’Sullivan, Elders Stud Stock, Toowoomba, Queensland 

• Top Machinery Sales Award, Brendan Mansbridge, Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon Co, Eugowra, NSW 

“Each award reflects a story of dedication and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving needs,” Mr Snyman said. 

“From machinery sales to livestock assessments, the calibre of work being done is nothing short of extraordinary. Our award winners are not only meeting those challenges head-on but also setting new benchmarks that others will aspire to reach. 

“Whether you’re a seasoned professional like David Welsh, guiding the next generation, or a young gun like Sam Christensen, bringing fresh energy and ideas, your efforts are laying the foundation for continued growth and success across the agricultural sector.” 

AWARD WINNER DETAILS 

Top Throughput Assessor – Cattle 

Winner: Katie Lewis, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, VIC 

Justification: Katie Lewis’s throughput exceeded 6,000 head in the past year. Astonishingly, in that time she listed close to 300 lots, which is more than double the next closest assessor in volume. She not only put through big numbers, she did so in smaller lots, which takes dedication and skill. 

Top Throughput Assessor – Sheep 

Winner: Greg Downing, Spence Dix & Co, Keith, SA 

Justification: Greg Downing’s sheep throughput totaled more than 45,000 in the past year, about 7,000 ahead of the next closest assessor in volume. 

Top Throughput Agency – Cattle 

Winner: Nutrien Ag Solutions Boultons, Walcha, NSW 

Justification: Nutrien Ag Solutions Boultons offered more than 9,500 head of cattle on the platform in the past year, higher than any other agency. 

Top Throughput Agency – Sheep 

Winner: Elders, Kingscote, SA 

Justification: Elders, Kingscote offered more than 65,000 head of sheep on the AuctionsPlus platform during the 2024 financial year.  

Top Throughput Agency – Combined 

Winner: Elders, Kingston, SA 

Justification: Elders, Kingston took out the honour of Top Throughput Agency – Combined in recognition of their high throughput of both sheep and cattle. The agency also won this award last year, so we congratulate them on going back-to-back. 

Howard Gardner Award 

Winner: David Welsh, Nutrien Ag Solutions Benalla, VIC 

Criteria: The Howard Gardner Award recognises a mentor and leader among early career assessors who has been an active and innovative AuctionsPlus user for over 10 years. The recipient must also demonstrate personal integrity, community engagement, and continue the legacy of Howard Gardner. 

Justification: David Welsh exemplifies the qualities of an ideal AuctionsPlus assessor. With over a decade of experience, he is not only a champion of the platform but also an invaluable mentor to early career assessors. David’s commitment to the platform is evident in his consistent involvement in training and his willingness to engage with the AuctionsPlus team to drive continuous improvement. His integrity, knowledge, and community spirit make him a standout choice for this award. 

NEW Gary Dick Award – Cattle 

Winner: Sam Bartlett, Adcock Partners Property & Livestock, Quilpie, QLD 

Criteria: The Gary Dick Award for Cattle recognises the AuctionsPlus-accredited assessor who lists significant throughput, with a high clearance rate on the platform during the 2024 financial year. The recipient must also demonstrate high engagement, exceptional assessment quality, and uphold the AuctionsPlus User Agreement. 

Justification: Sam Bartlett is a consistent and dedicated user of AuctionsPlus, ranking as the fifth highest turnover agent for cattle with more than 5500 head. His clearance rate is exceptional, with 93.6% in head and 93.3% in lots, the highest among the top five agents by a significant margin of 16%. Despite his youth, Sam is highly regarded for his work ethic, market knowledge, and proactive approach to promoting his lots. He effectively uses featured listings and advertising to secure sales, serving a diverse range of clients from corporates to small vendors. 

NEW Gary Dick Award – Sheep 

Winner: Tom Madden, TB White & Sons Pty Ltd, Delacombe, VIC 

Criteria: This award is given to the AuctionsPlus-accredited assessor who lists significant throughput with a high clearance rate for sheep during the 2024 financial year. The recipient must also exhibit high platform engagement, superior assessment quality, and a strong commitment to clients and the AuctionsPlus platform. 

Justification: Tom Madden, a respected figure in the industry, is the sixth highest lister of sheep, with nearly 23,000 head, and holds the best clearance rate of 93.2% in head and 91.9% in lots. His expertise extends beyond his listings, as he also contributes to the industry by delivering assessor courses for the RMA Network with a focus on sheep. Tom’s dedication to his clients and AuctionsPlus makes him a deserving recipient of this award. 

NEW Young Gun Award 

Winner: Sam Christensen, CPS Thomas Ballhausen & Irvine, Dubbo, NSW 

Criteria: This award recognises an under-30 AuctionsPlus-accredited assessor who is a role model within the livestock industry. The recipient must also be a champion of the platform, actively involved in their community, and bring fresh perspectives and energy to the industry. 

Justification: Sam Christensen has made significant strides in his career as a livestock and machinery assessor. Based in the competitive Dubbo region, Sam has been a Level 2 sheep and cattle assessor since 2017 and is now eligible to become a Level 1 assessor. His consistent throughput, strong engagement with the AuctionsPlus platform, and innovative approach to his work make him a deserving recipient of the Young Gun Award. 

NEW Industry Woman of the Year 

Winner: Jenni O’Sullivan, Elders Stud Stock, Toowoomba, QLD 

Criteria: This award honours a woman in the livestock industry who uses AuctionsPlus as part of their operations, serves as a role model, and promotes diversity and inclusion. The recipient must also exhibit professionalism, integrity, and a passion for agriculture. 

Justification: Jenni O’Sullivan has integrated AuctionsPlus into her operations with great success, setting a high standard for market access and client marketing. Jenni’s innovative approach and willingness to embrace change have made her a trailblazer in the industry. Her commitment to mentoring others and fostering inclusivity further cements her position as an exemplary leader and a worthy recipient of the Industry Woman of the Year Award. 

NEW Top Machinery Sales Award 

Winner: Brendan Mansbridge, Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon Co, Eugowra, NSW 

Criteria: This award is presented to the AuctionsPlus assessor or field manager with the highest gross machinery sales for the financial year, who also demonstrates high listing quality, strong platform engagement, and adherence to the AuctionsPlus User Agreement. 

Justification: Brendan Mansbridge has been a steadfast supporter of AuctionsPlus, consistently driving quality listings and engaging with the platform for over six years. His sales are conducted with the highest integrity, and he is highly respected for his knowledge and dedication to both the platform and the broader agricultural sector.  

We will be profiling all our award winners in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on our social media channels and newsletters to access these interviews and learn more about AuctionsPlus' top performing agents and agencies.