The Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust and Dunstan Hospital will be the beneficiaries of funds raised by the Upper Clutha Winter Crop Competition which was organised by the Rotary Club of Wānaka.

The competition judges the quality of local winter feed crops based on entries received from local farms. 

The awards presentation night and fundraising auction on Friday (May 24) raised more than $30,000 for the beneficiaries.

The Rotary Club of Wānaka president Marie Fitchett said the cropping competition is generously supported by the rural community, which will directly benefit from the funds raised.

“We want to make sure that our community is all the better for the effort that goes into this event,” she said.

“A portion of the proceeds will go towards the training and development of paramedics within the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust and we hope to make a significant donation to Dunstan Hospital to update heart monitoring equipment including telemetry for remote cardiac monitoring.”

Award winners L-R Hayden Dickey (Fodder Beet), Mark Rapsey (Kale and Supreme Winner), Rotary Club of Wānaka president Marie Fitchett, James McCaughan (Turnip), and Matt Walker (Swede).

Competition organiser Geoff McLeay said more than 130 people attended the awards night at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre and prizes were awarded across four categories as well as a supreme winner.

“It has been a tough season for crop growing, but we had some excellent crops entered,” he said. 

“The awards night auction was a real success and I can’t thank the businesses who supported us enough.”

This year's supreme award went to Mark Rapsey of Long Gully Farm for his Kale crop, which judges said was exceptional given the season's challenges.

The Rotary Club of Wānaka is the official organiser of the Upper Clutha Winter Crop Competition which is supported by Aspiring Rotary and endorsed by the Upper Clutha A&P Society.

Crop Winners

Turnip: Geordie Hill Station - James McCaughan

Swede: Lindis Crossing Station - Matt Walker

Kale: Long Gully - Mark Rapsey

Fodder Beet: Grandview - Hayden Dickey

Supreme winner: Long Gully - Mark Rapsey

PHOTOS: Rotary Club of Wānaka