Wanalta family donate proceeds of lamb sale to Good Friday Appeal

A pen of lambs has gone under the hammer to raise money for the Good Friday Appeal, donated by a farming family touched by the work of the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Heath, William and Thomas Ogden with the pen of lambs they sold for the Good Friday Appeal. Picture: Supplied

A CENTRAL Victorian family all too familiar with the work of the Royal Children’s Hospital is donating the proceeds from its lamb sale to the Good Friday Appeal.

Since 2013, Katrina and Billy Ogden and their three sons, of Wanalta, sell 10 of their lambs for the charity on the Monday before Easter every year.

Their dedicated support comes after their second-born Heath was flown to the hospital to receive treatment for a serious bout of pneumonia.

This year’s pen of 10 lambs sold for $315 a head at the Bendigo saleyards on Monday, with Midfield Meats the top bidder.

Mrs Ogden said she was very happy with the results and grateful to the buyers for reaching into their pockets for a good cause.

“Obviously they don’t have to spend that much money and they dig deep for us every year, so we’re very thankful,” she said.

“It’s a little harder this year with COVID and everything so we’re really happy with those prices.”

The family also run a yearly shearing day to raise money for the hospital, which has raised more than $60,000 in 2019.

Mrs Ogden said she still gets emotional thinking of the time they spent in the hospital, and wanted to support them however she could.

“Not a lot of people can leave that hospital with a healthy child. We try to do what we can by giving something back every year,” she said.

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