The 2018 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition winner, Joe Allen of Elders Euroa, left, with runner-up Joshua McDonald, Saffin Kerr Bowen Rodwells, Warrnambool.

TEN of Victoria’s best young livestock auctioneers will compete in the 2019 Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition next week.

The young auctioneers will start their bidding at 11:30 am on Monday 9 September at the Victorian Livestock Exchange at Pakenham.

Competing will be Ryan Bajada, Elders, Pakenham; Jacob Brennan, Mulcahy Nelson Livestock,Tatura; Thomas Davies, Rodwells, Wangaratta; Hamish Falla, Landmark Wangaratta; Joshua McDonald, Saffin Kerr Bowen Rodwells, Warrnambool; Reiley Murtagh, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga; Michael Robertson, Elders, Pakenham; Will Schilling, DMD, Horsham; Billy Trinder, Landmark East Gippsland Livestock P/L, Bairnsdale, and; James Wilson, Rodwells, East Bendigo.

The Pakenham event will be the 30th year of the ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition. The competitors will sell commercial cattle that are judged as part of the Royal Melbourne Show Prime Stock Competition. It will be livestreamed.

ALPA said each competitor attended an auctioneer’s school held in Echuca earlier this year where experienced auctioneers assisted the participants to improve their auctioneering skills while speech pathologists provided advice related to voice conservation and care.

The ten finalists will be competing for the title of 2019 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneer as well as the Graham Lanyon Shield. The winner and runner up will also have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the 2020 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition, held in Sydney at the Royal Easter Show next April.

Based on their industry experience and strong selling backgrounds, three judges have been selected to determine the winning auctioneer. Competitors will be judged on diction, values, voice and manner. They must establish their own presence and unique style to deliver a memorable performance that is worthy of the title.

The night before the competition, industry members and friends and families of the competitors will attend the annual ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Dinner. A highlight of the night will be the charity auction hosted by last year’s ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers winner, Joe Allen from Elders Euroa. This year ALPA will be raising funds to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a not- for- profit charity that offers excellence in aeromedical and primary health care across Australia.