SHARNEE Lloyd surpassed her expectations by raising more than $40,000 to help battling farmers and take out the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Charity Queen for 2015.
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Ms Lloyd was crowned at Saturday night’s Rodeo Ball, along with Whitney Dickson, who was named Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Queen.
Ms Lloyd’s tireless fundraising efforts snared more than $40,000 for her charity, drought relief provider Buy a Bale.
Her biggest fundraiser was an outback dinner held at the Argylla Pony Club for 160 guests who were served a three-course meal cooked by Terrace Gardens.
“I raised just over the $40,000 mark which I am completely stoked about as my target heading into the quest was $30,000,” she said.
“The money that I have raised will go towards bales of hay to support our local farmers in this crippling drought.”
A triple-trailer road train full of bales of hay left last weekend to help farmers in need across North Queensland thanks to Ms Lloyd’s efforts.
Ms Lloyd said throughout the competition she was supported by Buy a Bale and they will continue to help farmers in far North Queensland with bales of hay or any other assistance that they can provide.
Buy a Bale chief executive officer and founder Charles Alder said it was the first time a Rodeo Queen contestant has represented Buy a Bale, but he hopes it is not the last.
“All the funds raised will be spent delivering hay and supplies to farmers in the immediate region of the Isa,” he said.
“About 20 farmers will receive assistance from these funds, we know there are many more who need help and that drives us to raise even more funds.”
In the future, Ms Lloyd said she will continue to be an ambassador for Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo and also raise awareness for Buy Bale for many years. “It is a great privilege to be titled the 2015 Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Charity Queen as I hope to be a great ambassador for rodeo and share my love and knowledge of not only my charity but rodeo itself to the public attending the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo,” she said.
Ms Dickson raised $25,137.89 for Mount Isa Neighbourhood Watch through events such as sausage sizzles and her event Midsummer Masquerade Ball at The Buffs Club.
Mount Isa Neighbourhood Watch is a community-based crime prevention program that works towards building stronger relationships within the community, to minimise preventable crime and enhance community safety.
“When my Queen Quest journey first started out, I felt like it may have been a very long year ahead, but once I got into the swing of it, time honestly just disappeared,” she said.
