Close to home: Richmond charity bull honouring beloved vet tops sale

An Angus bull that made the equal top price at the Richmond Field Days All Breeds Bull Sale on Friday, June 13, had a highly emotional story to go with him.

While the overall sale result was impressive, with all 40 bulls selling to average $8641 ($7258 average and 97pc clearance last year), it was the story behind one of the $20,000 equal top price bulls that was the main talking point.

All of the proceeds from 20-month-old Baronessa Voyager U62 went to Angel Flight, dedicated to the memory of vet John Hosie, who was killed in an ATV accident near Richmond last year.

Best friend and Elders agent Anthony Ball auctioned the bull, close friend Shane Strazzeri of Baronessa Farming from Upper Barron bred the bull, and John's brother-in-law, Hamish McClymont, bought the bull.

Hamish McClymont said that he would take the bull back to Soda Valley to be joined to heifers.

Voyager was by SAV Checkmate 8158 and out of LM MS Beacon 607H4.

"It's a credit to Baronessa for doing this," Mr McClymont said.

"He's a good bull, it's a good cause and it's in the memory of John.

"And it is good to support those who show support to regional areas, it's a big effort for them to even get out here."

John was everywhere at the sale, with his dad present along with his wife, Michaela and his mother-in-law.

A poignant moment was when John and Michaela's young son was driving his toy car along the rail, being watched by the Angus bulls.

Shane Strazzeri of Baronessa Farming sold 12 bulls in total to average $9666 in what was his second appearance at the sale.

It was due to John that they had attended the sale for the first time last year.

"John was a good friend of the family, we grew up in the same area and showed cattle together," Mr Strazzeri said.

"And then when he became a vet, he worked on the farm as well.

"When he moved out here, he was the one that said, come out to Richmond and sell some bulls and that was our first year, last year."

The other $20,000 top price bull wasWoonalee Showstopper U606from Woonalee Simmentals, Millicent, South Australia, who was purchased by Eric Slack-Smith, Richmond.

Bulk buyer at the sale was the Neal family who bought eight bulls to average $6000.

• Selling agents: Elders, Kennedy Rural and Stockplace Marketing.