On Saturday morning, the bidding was spirited for the honour to lead this year’s Convoy down Auburn St and on to the Goulburn Showground.

With a starting figure of $1,000, the bids quickly surpassing the old record at the $4,000 mark.

Elders auctioneer Steve Ridley announced the new record had been set, but the bids did not slow, quickly rising to $5,000.

The final fall of the hammer went to Neil Madden of Madden’s Transport for $6,200 on his truck to be driven by Jodi Charnock.

Quick on the heels of the winner was a special announcement that Divalls would match the price paid with a donation to the cause.

This meant that, before the parade and public fundraising had even started, $12,400 had been raised.

Some 123 trucks and other vehicles took part in the convoy, from the Gateway Service Station North Goulburn to the Goulburn Showground.

Trucks ranged from new models to veterans, mostly polished up for the occasion and many carrying excited youngsters as passengers.

Out at the showground there was a range of stalls,displays, a raffle, a chocolate wheel and the traditional auction as well as family friendly activities.

Organisers did not expect to have final figures calculated until tomorrow, but President Bryan Webb said they were very pleased with how the day turned out and the fact that the rain mostly stayed away.

A popular event, the truck pull was a bit of an informal affair. It was the children’s team that managed to drag the Madden’s lead truck the quickest over the given distance with the assistance of anchor-man Dale “Homer” Hardy.