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When steer Billy the ‘Kidzfix’ Kid enters the show ring at the Sydney Royal Easter Show next week, he’ll have a special mission ahead of him – raise money for sick and disadvantaged children.
One of several charity steers being prepared by the young ladies from PLC Armidale’s cattle team, proceeds from the sale of Billy will go to KidzFix, which predominantly raises funds through a week-long car rally each year.
Sired by Fig Tree Park Hercules H5 and out of a Longford stud cow, the purebred Angus steer was donated to the school by Sandy and Emma Hodgens of West Wilford, Guyra.
The steer is part of the fundraising effort by Mr Hodgens and his friend Charlie Slacksmith, who began participating in the KidzFix car rally last year.
“It’s a very small charity but we’re able to raise a lot of money,” Mr Hodgens said.
“Between the 18 cars on the motoring adventure last year, we raised over $345,000, which was distributed along the way.”
Starting in Bundaberg, QLD, and travelling via Birdsville to finish in Moree, NSW, funds were distributed to hospitals, community groups and remote schools.
The funds also benefitted major Kidzfix project recipients, Royal Far West, which enabled 10 full scholarships to be provided for the Paediatric Developmental Program for country children with developmental delays, mental health conditions, and behavioural challenges.
Above: PLC Armidale student Isabella Hodgens with Billy.
Billy, who will be auctioned by one of the finalists of the ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition, is joined by charity steers Stormy and Texas, who will be sold by Schute Bell Badgery Lumby (SBBL).
Bred by Tim Willemse and Naomi Hobson of Panorama Farms Speckle Park stud, Narrabri, proceeds from Stormy and Texas will go to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
Since 1998, SBBL have held an annual charity steer auction at Sydney Royal to raise funds for the institute, which is renowned for the quality of its scientific discoveries and is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease through world-class and cutting-edge medical research.
This is the second year in a row the PLC Armidale cattle team has prepared charity steers, following the success of a steer which sold for $34,000 last year.
The steers have been prepared under the direction of long-time PLC Armidale cattle team managers Tim Light and Briony Looker of Double L Livestock Services, with Mr Light saying they were honoured to be invited back to prepare the charity steers for SBBL in 2023.
"It's a huge privilege, and I think it was down to the service we provided last year," Mr Light said.
"The comments from Sydney were that they were the quietest steers they'd had, and the girls were very professional in the way they handled them."
The pride of the team also contributed to the repeat invitation, Ms Looker said.
"Not only in the fact they were selected to do it, but the pride they had in their school and in working for us.
"We have a huge team of girls and are very productive, so people are starting to know our name and recognise us."
The Sydney Royal charity steer auction will be held on April 6.
