Chaser bin bid just what RFDS ordered

Avon Rayner has — touch wood — never needed to use the Royal Flying Doctor Service to take him from his home town Carnamah to access medical services in Perth.

But the mixed farmer said he knew just how important the service was to people living in farming communities across WA.

A third-generation farmer, Avon was the highest bidder at the charity chaser bin auction at the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days in August.

He paid $75,250 for the RFDS-themed, 40,000-litre Nyrex chaser bin, built by Cunderdin manufacturer GrainKing.

The company donated $55,000 to the RFDS and the colourful bin has been steaming along during harvest at the Rayners’ farm, 33km west of Carnamah.

“We were looking for a new chaser bin, with bigger capacity and an upgrade from our old bin, which was a 22-tonne Norrish bin,” Avon said.

“Being from a rural community, I understand how important the RFDS’ services are ... so buying the chaser bin was a bit of a privilege.”

Avon, who farms with his father Peter, this year cropped 2300ha of wheat, 1600ha of barley and 1100ha of lupins.

The Rayners replaced the chaser bin’s floatation tyres with earthmoving tyres to “make it roll a bit easier” in the farm’s deep sand.

The pair were just 1100ha of wheat and lupins off finishing their program when Countryman visited mid-December.

Avon said the farmers’ deep-ripping technique, used across 3300ha of sandy country, had delivered high yields this harvest.