Thousands raised for reinvigorated Yea football and netball club

A Yea Cattlemen’s Club is growing and selling cattle to raise money for its local sporting teams, with more than $30,000 already tucked away.

A Yea Cattlemen’s Club is finding new ways to reinvigorate its local sporting club, with more than $30,000 already tucked away.

Elders Yea livestock agent Ryan Sargeant auctioned cattle at the Yea May store cattle sale last Friday to raise money for the Yea Football and Netball club.

Elders Yea livestock agent Ryan Sargeant. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

He coaches the reserves football team and is part of a Cattlemen’s Club volunteer group alongside club president Peter Armstrong, Dindi Ag owner Matt Heilder, and Nutrien agent Chris Pollard.

He said the initiative started with a pre-existing Elders client and club sponsor who wanted to help raise money.

“He currently owns about 350 acres (140ha) out of Yea, used to run a cow and calf operation and switched over to a trading platform,” Ryan said. “He’s given us the opportunity to run 50 head on the place between the start of spring to the end of autumn.”

The group managed to secure 28 cattle and sold 22 on Friday to a top price of $2150 and averaged $1516. They raised $33,360 excluding GST.

Ryan said the farmer covered hay and silage costs, while Elders and Dindi Ag funded animal health costs, and Elders auctioned the cattle free of charge. Meanwhile, transport was covered by local transporter Lachie White.

“It took a lot of putting together,” Ryan said.

“If we can do it on a bigger scale, run 40 cattle and do it every year, it’ll be massive.”

He said the money would likely go towards day-to-day running costs including umpires, registration, paid players and coaches.

“We amalgamated with Broadford in 2022 and actually went into recess as a football club in 2023. Essentially we lost a number of players and coaching staff three years ago for different reasons,” Ryan said.

“We wanted to get the club back but couldn’t, the netball continued but the football had a year off. We couldn’t field a side, then we had a new change of committee and revamped it, had a new senior coach, I took on the reserves and we came back in 2024.”

The Reserves are currently sitting third on the ladder, behind Seville and Pakenham.

“To come back from where we were to where we are, it’s great,” Ryan said.