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Steers Auctioned for Dolly's Dream

15th January, 2025

Steers Auctioned for Dolly’s Dream

For the seventh consecutive year, Bookar’s Margaret Hallyburton will auction two steers at the Mortlake Feature Weaner Sale with all proceeds going to Dolly’s Dream.

Dolly’s Dream was launched in honour of Dolly Everett who tragically ended her life following an extended period of bullying and cyberbullying in 2017.

The loss of Margaret’s brother in the same year, just six weeks prior to Dolly’s sudden death compelled Margaret to get behind the cause.

“My brother took his life six weeks before Dolly took her life,” Margaret said.

A passionate advocate for the cause, Margaret kits herself out in the Dolly’s Dream merchandise including the shirt, vest and bush mits.

“I’ve got the shirt, got the vest and when it’s a bit chilly I put the vest on over the top and I’ve got the bush mits for when I’m driving so my hands don’t get burnt,” Margaret said.

With children heading back to school in less than two weeks, Margaret said it’s a timely reminder for parents and children to talk about the effects of bullying and mental health.

“It’s not just children, it's adults too and this year being so dry, it’s harder for people and they can dig themselves in a hole and not know how to come out, but people have to talk about this stuff and not sweep it under the rug,” Margaret said.

Margaret has raised more than $30,000 for Dolly’s Dream in seven years and hopes the cattle will make at least $2,000 each this year.

“We might get $3,000 we just don’t know, because it’s a tough year but if they start going over $2,000, I’ll be happy, I’ll just be happy with whatever they make,” Margaret said.

The steers are grass-fed, weaned and have had no antibiotics, but the tough season has impacted the Hallyburton’s.

“In our area we are a lot worse off than some other areas around us such as Mortlake and Colac even. We didn’t even cut hay, we’ve got bare paddocks and John’s feeding cattle every day,” Margaret said.

Despite the personal challenges Margaret and husband John have faced this season, there was never any doubt in donating the steers to charity this year.

“It’s a credit to Margaret and John Hallyburton for their wonderful and substantial ongoing support of such an important and noble cause being Dolly’s Dream. Their incredible generosity and selflessness is a superb example to all of us,” Charles Stewart’s Michael Stewart said.

The two steers will be auctioned on Thursday, January 16 with the sale kicking off at 12pm at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange in Mortlake.

For Margaret, it’s not just about raising money, it’s also about raising awareness and encouraging people to seek help when they need.

“We’ve got to get people to talk, think about it, and if you are having problems, don’t just push them away and hope they’ll go away because they don’t go away, they keep coming back,” Margaret said.

Click here to donate directly to Margaret's fundraising page.

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