A hugely-successful sportsman's luncheon hosted by the Albury-Wodonga Steamers will provide assistance to four Rural Fire Service brigades.
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Funds raised from the event will go towards supporting Culcairn North West, Back Creek, Lankeys Creek and Morven Rural Fire Brigades.
The late Sam McPaul, who lost his life fighting the Green Valley fire at Talmalmo, was a volunteer of the Morven brigade.
Ticket packages were donated by Rugby Australia, the ACT Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels, while the feature item was an original art piece prepared by Indigenous artist Dan Clegg, themed around regeneration and renewal.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy had the winning bid for the artwork.
Wallabies legends Nick Farr-Jones and Tim Gavin, who were guest speakers at the luncheon, offered four tickets to the Australia and Ireland test in Sydney and the chance to join them for a private lunch.
If he was unable to make it on the day, Farr-Jones said he would organise David Campese or Mark Ella to take his place.
ALSO IN SPORT:
An additional late item made it into the auction with the family of the late Gordon McMaster donating one of his most prized possessions, a 2001 signed Wallabies jersey.
McMaster was well known within the Australian and world merino industries and was the custodian of the world's oldest breeders of the kelpie, Wyreema Kelpie Stud in Narrandera.
His daughter Lyndsey Draper said her father's love of rugby ran deep all his life and she was pleased to help in some way.
"I wanted to donate the jersey to be a little help then heard of Sam's (McPaul) death. He was my son's age and that really broke me," she said.
Steamers' president Mick Raynes was thrilled with the response.
"We're still doing the wash-up on the auction and the collection tins at the ground, but we'll go knock on the RFS doors shortly and help them out," he said.
"The RFS guys had a great night out. It was a great opportunity for them to switch off."