$185,000 Raised at WagyuEdge Industry Dinner | Australian Wagyu Association

$185,000 Raised at WagyuEdge Industry Dinner to Support RFDS and Future Industry Leaders

Industry Dinner Auction

The Australian Wagyu Association has raised an outstanding $185,000 through its annual charity auction at the WagyuEdge Industry Dinner, reinforcing its commitment to both life-saving healthcare in regional Australia and the future of the Wagyu industry.

Held as a highlight of the WagyuEdge conference, the annual auction supports two key initiatives: the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Queensland and the Wagyu Fellowship, which invests in developing the next generation of industry leaders.

Funds raised on the night will directly contribute to the RFDS’s ability to deliver critical medical services across rural and remote Australia, while also supporting the Wagyu Fellowship’s role in advancing education, innovation, and leadership within the sector.

Speaking at the event, Erin McCabe General Manager – Fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Qld highlighted the shared values between the Wagyu industry and the communities it serves,

“Beef and cattle more broadly isn’t just an industry in this country, it’s the lifeblood of regional Australia and communities that look out for one another when it really counts.”

The RFDS provides emergency aeromedical retrievals, primary healthcare, and mental health services to some of Australia’s most isolated regions, services that are only possible through ongoing community and industry support.

“That is what your support achieves. You enable us to get to people, not with just an aircraft, but with highly trained medical teams ready to deliver intensive care in the sky.”

The importance of this support was underscored through real-life examples shared on the night, including the story of a young Queensland woman who survived a life-threatening cattle yard accident thanks to the rapid response of the RFDS.

“Jess is here today because her family lived in a community where help could reach them, because organisations like this association decided to support a service like the RFDS.”

Beyond emergency response, the RFDS also delivers ongoing healthcare services to rural Australians, “RFDS isn’t only there in the moments when everything goes wrong, we’re there for routine clinics, for mental health support, for every Australian, no matter what postcode they’re living in.”

Strong Industry Support Drives Auction Success

The $185,000 total was achieved through enthusiastic bidding across a range of unique and highly sought-after items:

Auction Results:

Two-Tone Kangaroo Hide Whip – Matt & Melissa George ($16,000)
Custom Handcrafted Horse Sculpture – Laird & Sonia Morgan ($46,000)
Grazing Board & Japanese Knife – Wentworth Cattle Co ($14,000)
Zarabella Bambling Artwork – Scott de Bruin ($30,000)
2026 WBBC Champion Steaks Pack – Peter Hughes ($22,000)
Land Watch ‘Station Manager’ System – HH Pastoral ($15,000)
5hr Fishing Charter – 3D Genetics ($20,000)
Bective Station Experience – Scott de Bruin ($22,000)

A Lasting Impact

The funds raised will help ensure the RFDS can continue delivering essential healthcare services to remote communities, while the Wagyu Fellowship will support the growth, capability, and sustainability of the Australian Wagyu industry.

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