Some 15 years ago a group within the Rotary Club of Brisbane Centenary, Qld, hit upon an idea to support those less fortunate by getting donated cattle into the benevolent food chain. That idea was the birth of BeefBank Ltd.
Every beast donated to BeefBank produces approximately 200 kilograms of mince, sausages and cubed meat. When 100 grams is added to a meal for the hungry it supports 2,000 meals. With the vision of ‘feeding Australia’s underprivileged a nutritious meal that includes meat’, hundreds of cattle have made a significant difference to those experiencing hunger.
BeefBank continues to grow, with cattle not only donated in Queensland, but also sheep and lambs in Western Australia, pigs in South Australia, and cattle in both Victoria and New South Wales.
From an embryo of an idea, the Rotary-owned BeefBank is now a conduit to Foodbank Australia and FareShare. Foodbank is the largest hunger relief charity in Australia, linking surplus food and groceries to people in need, while FareShare transforms rescued, donated and homegrown food into millions of delicious, healthy meals for people doing it tough.
To raise awareness of food insecurity and funds to feed those in need, BeefBank recently launched one of its most significant projects to date – the Great Australian Charity Cattle Drive!
After 18 months of planning, the inaugural GACCD was officially launched by Organising Committee Chair Andrew Rodgers at the sold-out Rural Press Club Breakfast during Rockhampton’s Beef Week in May.
The project has grown into possibly the greatest fundraising and outback tourist event in Australia. It is a unique opportunity for an outback experience that will enable members of the Australian cattle industry to give back to those less fortunate.
The drive will see 2,000 head of quality steers walked by professional drovers and paying supporters on horseback along designated stock routes from Longreach to Roma. It is proposed the 790-kilometre drive will take approximately three months, starting in Longreach in May 2025 and finishing in Roma in early August. The route has been broken into three legs, with scheduled rest days that will enable participants to engage with schools and communities to educate and bring awareness to the outback of Beefbank and its work around food insecurities throughout Australia.
“We see this project as an ideal way to raise awareness of the current food insecurity across Australia,” says Andrew.
“We believe the GACCD has the potential to bring hundreds of tourists to our outback towns, to support the initiative and to step back in time and experience the ‘droving days of old’.
“The beef industry has by-and-large had several very good years, and this project provides a perfect platform for the bush to give back to the broader community and our city-based cousins, after itself receiving fantastic community support during the 2019-20 drought.
PICTURED: BeefBank provides meat to Foodbank Australia and FareShare for distribution to the homeless and marginalised people in our communities.
“BeefBank’s sole purpose is to provide beef to Foodbank Australia and FareShare, which in turn distribute to hundreds of charitable organisations feeding the homeless and disadvantaged. We will leverage the funds raised through the event to create a controlled supply pipeline of nutritious meals for Queenslanders in need.”
While still a work in progress, the GACCD committee is engaging with various entertainers and community groups to organise fundraising and awareness activities in the towns and outback stations through which they will pass.
Tania Kernaghan and Jason Owens have already committed to spending time both on the drive and performing at a concert, while local councils are committed to providing entertainment and activities to incorporate the drive and its cause.
The event’s two major fundraising projects – ‘Adopt a Steer’ and ‘Buy a Saddle’ – were recently launched on Facebook.
‘Adopt a Steer’ enables supporters to adopt a steer for the duration of the three-month drive. It is, in reality, a donation and will be the drive’s major fundraiser.
Supporters can also ‘Buy a Saddle’ for two, three, five or seven days to join the droving team and experience the unique opportunity of yesteryear moving cattle along the stock routes of Queensland. Participants will love the camaraderie of sitting around a campfire and enjoying authentic Aussie meals, bush poetry and camping out in a swag under the stars at night.
Suitable horses with all tack and equipment will be provided, together with drinks and meals.
For more information on the Great Australian Charity Cattle Drive, visit charitycattledrive.au where you will find the Outback Marketing video that was aired at the GACCD launch at the Rural Press Club Breakfast in front of 800 patrons during Beef Week and a podcast of the event by Kerry Lonergan on the Beef Centrals Weekly Grill. You can also ‘Adopt a Steer’ or register to join the ‘Buy a Saddle’ experience and come along for ‘the ride of your life’!
MAIN PICTURE: To raise awareness of food insecurity and funds to feed those in need, BeefBank recently launched one of its most significant projects to date – the Great Australian Charity Cattle Drive! Participants will love the camaraderie of sitting around a campfire and enjoying authentic Aussie meals, bush poetry and camping out in a swag under the stars at night.