ISOLATED rural communities are set to reap rewards from the sale of seven wool bales that went under the hammer across Australia last week.
A total of $18,814 was given to the Royal Flying Doctor Service by the Australian Wool Network (AWN), who donated the wool.
Overall it has raised $53,814 over the past nine years for the cause.
“We are keen supporters, it’s a fantastic service,” said AWN’s Brent Squires.
AWN sold two bales at the Australian Woolhandlers Centre at Melbourne last week to Mark Symes, who is a wool buyer for G Schneider Australia.
The first bale, which yielded 75.1 per cent and measured 15.6 microns, reached 2400 cents a kilogram greasy, while the second bale at 16.2 micron fetched 2200c/kg. Together they made $6844.
Mr Squires said there was plenty of bidding from buyers who were keen to snap up the superfine wool and support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The successful buyer, Mr Symes, said the wool was destined for South America.
“Argentina is an emerging market, especially in fine wools,” he said.
“It’s a specialty area we are currently trying to develop.”
He said Argentina’s domestic wool clip was around 23-24 microns, so fine wools were in high demand.
AWN auctioneer Kelvin Shelley said the Melbourne bales sold 150c/kg above market value.
The other five bales were sold in Fremantle, WA, and Sydney, NSW.
Peter Howie, Dyson Jones (a trading division of AWN), WA manager, said he was pleased with the overall bidding for the three-bale line at Fremantle and the final achievement of $5054.
These were purchased by PJ Morris Wools Pty Ltd.
At the final sale in Sydney on Thursday, two bales were sold. The first made $3844 for the 124 kilogram bale of extra superfine Merino fleece and was purchased by New England Wools.
It was also secured by G Schneider Australia for $3072, which was the second RFDS offering taken up by wool exporter during the week.