Sarah Packer, from TopX at Roma will contest the 2017 young auctioneers competition.
THE 2017 ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneer Competition will be contested by ten young auctioneers — including the first female contestant — at the Royal Queensland Show or Ekka in Brisbane next month.
The Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association competition will kick off at 9am on Friday August 11 at the Ekka in its 28th year.
The ten finalists include Andrew Carcary, GDL, Blackall; Brady Jackson, Elders, Roma; William Loudon, GDL, Miles; Harrison Phillips, Savage Barker & Backhouse, Rockhampton; Jack Henshaw, Landmark, Mareeba; Anthony O’Dwyer, GDL, Dalby; Sarah Packer, TopX, Roma; Alexander Riley, Ray White Rural, Roma; Nick Shorten, GDL, Roma; Brent Williams, Elders Rural Services, Charters Towers.
ALPA chief executive officer Andy Madigan said the ten competitors were selected at an auctioneers’ school held in Rockhampton earlier this year where they received coaching and feedback from experienced auctioneers and speech pathologists.
“They all have worked extremely hard to get to where they are today.
“ALPA is particularly looking forward this year to having our first female auctioneer in the Queensland competition, Sarah Packer from TopX Roma.”
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Sarah Packer was raised on her parent’s property south of Roma and also spent five years on a property near Inverell in New South Wales before returning to Roma in 2009.
“Having grown up on my family’s mixed enterprise properties I had a lot of opportunities to be involved in different aspects within our agricultural sector from sheep and cattle to cropping.
“After finishing Year 12 as school captain, I returned to work in 2010 within the family enterprise,” she said.
“When the drought continued to worsen by 2013, I went to gain off-farm income.
“Having gained my MC license I drove road trains for two years before returning to Roma to have a career in the rural industry.”
Sarah said since starting with TopX in 2015, she has gained a wealth of experience within the saleyard system and is able to meet her clients’ needs in marketing their sheep and cattle. She is a qualified Level 3 AuctionsPlus Assessor for cattle and holds her auctioneers license.
The competitors will be vying for the title of ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneer as well as the Queensland Country Life shield, the Don Steele AM Cup (named after former ALPA Northern Regional Manager, Don Steele AM), $1000 cash, prizes from various sponsors and the opportunity to represent Queensland at the 2018 ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition National Final, held at the 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show. ALPA said based on industry experience and a strong selling background, a panel of three judges has been selected to identify this year’s winning auctioneer. They will be looking for a memorable performance as well as evaluating the competitor’s diction, values, voice, manner, presence and unique style.
ALPA said it is passionate about providing professional development and education programs to its members. The longevity of the Young Auctioneers Competitions is a testament to the quality of training and education ALPA provides and the focus it shines on the future leaders of the industry, ALPA said.
Last year’s Queensland runner-up Lincoln McKinlay went on to take out the national title at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year and represented Australia at the International Livestock Auctioneer Championships at the Calgary Stampede, where he was named International Rookie of the Year.
The night before the competition, industry members and the competitor’s friends and family will gather for the ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneers Dinner. This night is a celebration of the young auctioneering talent and a highlight of the night will be the charity auction hosted by last year’s Queensland Young Auctioneer, Jake Smith from Landmark Roma. This year ALPA will be raising funds to support the work of the John Logan Foundation, a not-for-profit charity that offers financial support to people diagnosed with cancer.
Source: ALPA.
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