IN TRUE country style, the call was made and the community responded, with around 1000 fans, family and friends packing the Coleraine showgrounds at the weekend, to pay tribute to the late Adam McClure.

The international shearing fraternity and Western District community were rocked by Mr McClure’s death in December last year, after the 32-year-old was killed in a car crash near Beaufort, leaving behind young daughters Frankie and Annabelle.

On Saturday, they banded together in a fundraiser - ‘The Last 50 Stroke for an Amazing Bloke’, in honour of Mr McClure’s musical career - to help secure a comfortable future, for the two girls.

A small committee of organisers, backed by a band of volunteers from across the district, saw jumping castles, a petting zoo, bar and barbecue pulled together in the lead up to the feature acts – a speed shearing competition and goods and services auction – to raise what is expected to be around $80,000, to be put in trust for Frankie and Annabelle.

Organising committee member, Matthew Fitzgerald said yesterday while donations were still coming in and the counting from the weekend still to be finalised, the amount ticked off, so far, had left the committee “absolutely stunned”.

“There are a couple of minor costs that we have to take out, but it looks like there’s around $80,000 for the girls’ trust … something to support them well and by the time they get to high school, with interest, who knows where that will be,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The committee’s Eisha McKerlie said the group was “blown away” by the outcome of the event and people’s generosity on the day.

“It was amazing - truly incredible,” she said.

Everybody’s generosity and the support was unbelievable; I think it’ll sink in later today when we finally take a break but on the day we were just looking around thinking ‘look how many people are here, this is amazing

Eisha McKerlie, Committee member

“Everyone had a good time and we just want to thank everyone for coming, and for their support and donations and help.”

Born and raised in Coleraine, Mr McClure was active in the community and a familiar face in local shearing sheds, before moving away for work and finding national and international fame with his satirical, musical take on all things rural - but particularly shearing.

He made his musical debut at 17 and began writing his own songs, which led to the launch of his professional music career in 2013, when his first song, titled ‘The Shearer’, received public recognition, getting more than 3000 downloads on Triple J Unearthed.

After that, he continued to make music, writing songs about country life that include dry Aussie humour backed by catchy melodies and his popular creations, including ‘Hamilton Part 1 and 2’, ‘The 50 Stroke’, ‘The Shearer’ and ‘Smashing Tinnies’, inspired the name of the weekend’s fundraiser and the backdrop to Saturday’s main event, where organisers were overwhelmed with entries.

“We had to cut entries off at two o’clock for the quick shear because we had filled 75 slots,” Ms McKerlie said’

“We had people travel from Morwell, New South Wales and South Australia just to be there; it was very good to see such great support.”

Ms McKerlie said a goods and services auction had attracted massive support from the local community, with big and small businesses and individuals donating dozens of items to the event, additional monetary donations made throughout the night and other goods contributed as separate fundraising items.

“We haven’t done any final figures yet, but we made around $40,000 from the auction alone,” she said.

“We had over 60 items that had been donated from various local businesses and companies - everything from crayfish, wood, signed football jumpers, other footy merchandise, it sort of covered everyone in some way.”

“The whole committee was just blown away with everyone’s support and generosity - people were driving down to the gate and handing over $100 note donations.

“Throughout the event people were coming up to the committee members and handing over cheques and cash.

“We also had shearing singlets in kids and adult sizes and polo tops sponsored by the Coleraine Hotel for sale, which sold out.

“And we had stubby holders sponsored by the Heywood Hotel for sale on the day and we sold over 400 on Saturday.

“It was amazing to help the girls and set them up for the future.”

Ms McKerlie said she was overwhelmed by the support shown from the local community, not only on the day but also leading up to the event.

“The community’s support was incredible, we had people wanting to help us through the whole planning and organising, and on the day we had community members coming up asking if there was anything they could do to help,” she said.

For anyone who couldn’t attend the event on Saturday, the committee are still accepting donations and anyone who is interested can contact Mathew Fitzgerald on 0409 560 734.