Participants in the Australian Fleece Competition, whose winners are awarded at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, can chose to donate their fleeces. Competition convener Candice Cordy, who works for key competition partner Landmark, said 282 fleeces were donated that filled 11 bales. She said that equated to roughly two-thirds of the fleeces entered being donated to this year’s chosen charity.

Ms Cordy said the buying gallery at the Melbourne wool selling centre were also very generous and again supported the sale of the donated fleeces very well by bidding above the market rate.

She said Australian Merino Exports bought five bales of the line and Modiano and Fox bought a bale each. Their purchases raised more than $13,000 for the charity.

Read more: Sheep and wool showcased in 2017

Carlie Ryan works at The OTIS Foundation and said it provided free retreat accommodation for those living with breast cancer and their families. The have 36 retreats throughout Australia and will open their first one Western Australia soon.

“In this past financial year, we made close to 4000 nights available for families to spend time together, make memories and have a break from treatments,” Ms Ryan said.

She said the foundation owned four of the retreats and the balance were holiday homes that people allowed OTIS to use when they would otherwise be vacant. It still costs The OTIS Foundation about $50 a night to provide the accommodation.

Kristy Cook, also of OTIS, said having a relaxing break together helped their clients get a new lease on life that helped them in their treatment.

“Each $5000 we raise allows us to provide one property for a year,” Mr Ryan said.

She said all but one of their retreats were in rural or regional areas.

“Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer is eligible to stay,” she said.

Ms Cordy said the Australian Fleece Competition (whose other key partners are the AWTA and the Australian Sheep Breeders Association) had been running for 17 years and had now raised more than $140,000 for charities.