Farmer goes ‘pink’ to support cancer

LEONGATHA South dairy farmer Travis Thomas is in the habit of adding splashes of pink to the property for his three young daughters but dwarfed his previous efforts, buying a stunning pink Hustler silage wagon.

Although young trio Lacey, Maddie and Lottie inspired the unusual order, it served a broader community purpose, benefiting the McGrath Foundation’s breast care nurse program.

Gendore Tractors & Machinery, the seller of the eye-catching wagon, and manufacturer Hustler donated a total of $2,000 to the McGrath Foundation, adding to the tally raised by the Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak (OMK) Cricket Club through a recent cattle sale and its February 5 Pink Stumps Day.

“We’re really behind community sport and we saw this as another opportunity to get behind a community project, and many of us have been touched by cancer in one way or another,” Gendore managing director Derek Genoni said.

He explained it was a team effort, with Hustler, farmer Travis and Gendore all playing their part.

Travis is delighted that his idea of customising a new piece of farm equipment for his daughters has boosted OMK’s fundraising efforts for such a worthy cause.

He thanked Leongatha Gendore sales representative Brett Charlton for his part in getting the McGrath Foundation involved after the pair discussed the possibility.

The new machine certainly stands out on the family farm and is a dramatic change from Hustler’s usual green exterior.

Travis feels it will fit in perfectly on a dairy farm.

“It’s a feminine colour and the cows are all girls,” he said.

Travis also believes that as well as benefiting the McGrath Foundation and those assisted by its breast care nurses, the unusual purchase will send an important message to his daughters.

“If it makes you happy, do it,” is what he wants them to learn.

It seems certain the arrival of the vibrant wagon brought a little extra joy for Travis too, and he was quick to chat with the Gendore team about the finer points of the machine’s operation.