Stock Up for Hope Charity Drove

Stock Up for Hope was originally created by SU Qld to raise funds for school chaplains in the bush, encouraging donations of cattle rather than cash from major rural donors.

Capacity Builders has created and managed the Stock Up for Hope Charity Drove, which takes donated cattle on the road in outback Queensland to raise funds for SU chaplains.

Stock Up is Australia’s biggest charity cattle drove, capturing the imaginations and commitment of everyone from CEOs to chefs, cattle producers to mayors, corporates to kids. The Stock Up for Hope Charity Drove is entering its third event, having successfully raised over $300,000 in 2009 (and $90,000 in 2007) to support young people in the bush.

In 2009, the community rallied behind the Drove, which saw:

• 400 cattle droved from Mitchell to Roma over five weeks
• Over 40 city-slicker corporates on a ‘true blue’ droving experience, rounding up cattle on horseback by day, sharing yarns round the campfire and sleeping in swags under the stars by night
• Community events including camp drafting and an intimate Dinner Under the Stars with Former Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, and his family
• Cattle sale generating a 15-20% premium for 500 donated cattle, ensuring the fundraising target of $300,000 was achieved
• Sell-out 450-guest Gala Dinner, including entertainment by country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley and a three-course meal by award-winning Brisbane chef, Jason Peppler

Capacity Builders has played a pivotal role in creating strong partnerships with sponsors including Elders, Landmark, Rabobank and Santos who see the event as their own and invest significant time, energy and funds to make it a success.

Capacity Builders managed the publicity, with the event attracting saturation media coverage from radio, television (including Today Show, Landline and Stateline) and print, underpinned by 10 weeks of updates, insights and information from iconic rural publication and media partner, Queensland Country Life.

Indeed, the real significance of the Stock Up for Hope Charity Drove is not found in the event itself, but in the way that the journey has become a catalyst for community pride and ownership. It has without doubt put chaplaincy on the map in Queensland.

The Drove will run again in 2011 to raise a further $300,000.

"Capacity Builders has provided the injection of creativity and expertise we needed during a period of unprecedented ministry opportunity. They have been a tremendous resource and support for a number of our staff." SU Qld CEO, Tim Mander