Ready for a big stage

Elders Euroa agent Joe Allen is off to the Royal Sydney Easter Show next year after finishing runner-up in the 2017 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition.

Mr Allen, who has a background in sheep and cropping, said he was ready for what was to come.

‘‘It will be a new challenge. It’s good to represent Elders at that level and to compete with other auctioneers at that level,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s a welcome challenge.’’ To get to this stage, Mr Allen had to go through an extensive selection process after being nominated by his peers.

‘‘I was nominated by my colleagues and then went to a selection process at Bendigo, run by ALPA, which you go to first.

‘‘There’s speech therapists and plenty of training before selection.

‘‘They basically do a selection and the best 10 auctioneers go off to Pakenham.’’

At Pakenham, the competitors took their place at the rostrum and sold commercial cattle, while they were judged on diction, values, voice and manner.

Mr Allen said he entered the program to improve his client service.

‘‘It’s all about developing yourself as an auctioneer/agent to better the service at your clients’ disposal and to build more business,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s all about the people, not about the auctioneering.’’

Mr Allen described his style as basic and said that was the key to his success.

‘‘Doing the simple well is the main thing. It gets you as far as any style,’’ he said.

What bird is that? . . . Benalla photographer Rene Martens snapped this waterbird at Winton Wetlands. Do you know what species of bird it is?

Bidding for national award . . . ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneer runner-up Joe Allen will represent the state and Elders Euroa at next year’ s Royal Sydney Easter Show.