Cattle Farmer Donates $300K to Heart Disease

Every year in March or April, Sydney plays host to the Royal Easter Show. And every year for the past 11 years, Mr Ferry pulls on his dusty blue jeans, turns up to the Cattle Auction and quietly waits for his moment.

He sits up the very back of the amphitheatre as hundreds of ribbon winning steers are shown around the auction ring. In the crowd are buyers from Woolworths and Coles, farmers and butchers, who all know good stock when they see it, and the raucous sales come thick and fast.

Mr Ferry continues to wait, until at last, a heavyweight steer is led into the arena, uniquely draped in a bright blue rug with large lettering that reads - Schute Bell Charity Steer.

There’s no need for shushing, the entire crowd falls silent on its own, leaning forward on the plastic seats to get a good look at the 600-kilo beast.

You see, there’s something special about the Schute Bell Charity Steer. It’s been hand raised from a calf by country school kids, who are charged with feeding, watering, brushing, clipping, washing and training the steer, to give them a deep understanding of livestock health and welfare. It’s all in preparation for the grand unveiling at the Royal Easter Show where it will be sold to the highest bidder to raise funds for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Back in the amphitheatre the Auctioneer commands the stage and signals the start. The bidding erupts. It’s frantic and frenzied. There’s yelling and hollering between the buyers and the price of the steer goes up and up.

But no matter how much it rises, Mr Ferry keeps on bidding. When the Auctioneer’s hammer finally comes down, cheers and whistles explode from the stadium.

They’re cheering for the steer, they’re cheering for the school kids, but most of all they’re cheering for Mr Paul Ferry.

For 11 years running, Mr Ferry has been the winning bidder of the Schute Bell Charity Steer, donating roughly $300,000 towards medical research and the fight against heart disease.

In 2020, due to Coronavirus, the Royal Easter Show was cancelled, and it seemed the hardworking school kids and Schute Bell would be deprived of the opportunity to make their own contribution to the Institute for this year.

But Mr Ferry wouldn’t have it, his moment had come again. He picked up the phone, called Schute Bell and said;

“Why haven’t you called? I don’t care that the Show was cancelled, of course I’m going to buy the steer!”

He hung up and signed a cheque for $20,000 made out to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. When the students from St Stanislaus College found out that Mr Ferry was purchasing the steer for a 12^th consecutive year they couldn’t believe it.

Like I said, Mr Ferry is no ordinary bloke.

And now, like COVID-19, it seems Mr Ferry’s generosity is infectious.

1888 Certified in Double Bay has just committed to selling the produce and donating all proceeds to the Institute, ensuring that despite no Easter Show, the 2020 Schute Bell Charity Steer will be one of the most charitable on record.