AFTER a COVID-induced year off, the old rams were back in force for their annual Old Ram Muster at RASWA's Claremont Showgrounds earlier this month.
Apart from the joy of catching up with old mates, guests were also entertained by this year's guest speaker, real estate guru John Garland AM, Garland International, who had plenty of industry tales to tell.
Mr Garland reflected on his time as an Elders stockie beginning with 4am starts in the saleyards at Midland followed by several regional town postings with the company, his subsequent change of career as a Chamberlain machinery dealer in Kondinin, and in more recent times some of his memorable real estate sales as one of WA's leading sellers of rural and regional property since 1961.
And he took time to acknowledge the many people who helped him along the way.
Apart from the opportunity for fellowship interspersed with plenty of joke telling, the luncheon serves an important community purpose.
The Old Ram Muster committee has been organising the event to raise money for Ability WA (originally the Cerebral Palsy Centre), which offers care and services for children and adults with disabilities, annually since 2007.
This year 93 people were in attendance, including a few young rams, mostly offspring of some of the more mature stud sires in the paddock.
Collectively more than $20,000 was raised which included a $10,000 donation from the JP Stratton Trust.
Wendy Gould, who along with Ability WA's manager of partnerships Ingrid Barnard was one of only two ewes at the table, attended for Farm Weekly, which is also a sponsor.
If you would like to be part of next year's event or to be included on the Old Ram Muster mailing list contact Mike Walter on 0417 889 108 or mikewalter@kochiioil.com.au.
