When Bernard and Cynthia Anderson, Narrien, Clermont, offered a line of 13 Braford steers at the recent Clermont Beef Expo, they knew exactly who would benefit from the sale.
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The couple donated the entire proceeds amounting to $32,210, to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
It is exactly 12 months this week, since the couple experienced first-hand, the dedication and commitment of RFDS staff when they helped save the life of their young son Joe.
On Melbourne Cup day last year, Joe took a break from his year five School of Distance Education studies to watch the big race with his mother.
After the race, Cynthia received a phone call, and Joe returned to his project of making candles.
What happened next is every parent’s nightmare.
“There was a massive explosion,” Cynthia said.
“Joe had lost the tips of his left fingers and was at risk of losing his right eye.
“With the help of our farm worker, who was a tower of strength, we bundled Joe up and met the Clermont ambulance about halfway from home.
“We live an hour-and-a-half west of Clermont.”
Cynthia said once at the Clermont Hospital, Joe was stabilised and flown to the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane by the RFDS.
“The RFDS quick response in getting Joe to the hospital saved his right eye,” she said.
“Both Bernard and I travelled with Joe on the plane – it was a massive relief.
“The doctors who flew with us, also travelled on to the Lady Cilento Hospital to ensure Joe got the first class care he needed.
“During the flight we asked the doctors what was the cost of Joe’s medical uplift.
“They told us $20,000 – and that was what Bernard was hoping to crack with the sale of our steers.”
Joe’s recovery period took six weeks, and these days he leads a normal life.
Now in grade six, he has joined his older brothers Cam and Ben, as a boarder at the Toowoomba Prep School.
He has settled at boarding school life and enjoys playing touch football.
The Anderson steers were placed first in the grass-fed trade section at the Clermont Beef Expo.
They weighed 668kg and sold for 315c/kg to Teys Australia Rockhampton, to return $2737/head.
Overall they grossed $27,373, and when GST, prizemoney, and a generous waiving of commission by selling agents Hoch & Wilkinson was added, it tallied a generous $32,210.
