RFDS the beneficiary from Augathella Campdraft

EVEN in times of drought, a small, hard-working team has rallied together to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Augathella Hospital Auxiliary.

More than 850 nominations were received for the three-day Augathella Charity Campdraft held at the end of July.

After being flown out by the RFDS in 2010, campdraft president Andy Mulcahy said it was fitting to fundraise for the aero-medical service.

“The RFDS is an important service out here and we wanted to help,” he said.

The idea for a charity campdraft began many years ago between a conversation with Mr Mulcahy and Augathella local, Ally Russell.

With strong connections to the Augathella hospital, the plan to fundraise for the small outback town’s service grew.

It took a few years to get the charity campdraft off the ground, but with very generous supporters, Mr Mulcahy said it was a successful event.

“The Augathella hospital auxiliary is also an important cause locally, and we wanted to support them too,” he said.

While the final figures are yet to be tallied, Mr Mulcahy said the family sport made for a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and make friends, especially during the tough drought conditions.

“It gives a social occasion and hopefully means something to the community,” he said.

Springsures Zane Habermann and his horse Moore Swift took out first place in the Western Meat Exporters open draft.

Leanne Comiskey, Alpha, aboard Rey Two, won the Manresa ladies draft.

Not only was Mr Mulcahy involved with the organisation of the event, but he also donated the cattle for the draft and the cattle were walked in from the Mulcahys’ Augathella property.

“I’ve been chasing other people’s cattle at drafts for 30 years so it’s good that I am in a position to make a contribution every now and then,” he said.

He said the event would not have been possible without the support of the Russell Family, from Augathella, along with the sponsors, judges and helpers who assisted with the event.

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and Queensland Country Life