Strathspey farming community rallies to help young family
The strath’s farming community is rallying to help the widow and three young children of Mr Dunky McBain, who died suddenly last month.
The Strathspey Farmers’ Club is to hold an auction at the end of Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ sheep sale in Kingussie next Monday (September 26), with the proceeds going to the children and to be held in trust.
Mr McBain (58) was found dead at his home at Ballinluig Farm by Aviemore by a family member on the morning of August 22.
Mr John Kirk, who is grounds convener with the club, said the farming community wanted to raise money to help Mr McBain’s three children – Finlay (15), Cammy (13) and Velvet (11) – and wife, Karen.
Mr Kirk said: "Dunky was one of the nicest people you could ever meet, and the community turned out in large numbers at Alvie Church for his funeral. There were as many people outside the church as inside.
"There was always great hospitality at Ballinluig. Dunky loved his wife, Karen, and was very proud of his kids and his niece, Gemma, who helped Dunky on the farm.
"He loved his sheep stock and Ballinluig stock was always in demand for breeding, with a lot of farms having Ballinluig blood line in their flocks.
"The loss of anybody is sad, but to lose a great shepherd and friend with a young family is heartbreaking, and the farming community wants to help the children.
"The money will be put in a trust fund to help the kids with university or any other needs."
Mr Kirk continued: "Farming communities try to rally round to help their own, and the least we can do is something for these children.
"If we can’t help ourselves, then no-one else can, and there have been a lot of people asking us to do something."
Auction organisers have already received donations of a day’s hire of a digger; walking sticks; boxes of meat; bottles of whisky and various other items. Some farmers also want to donate the proceeds from a sheep in the sale.
Mr Kirk said: "If they sell a pen of sheep, they will donate one from the fund, which could be somewhere between £50 and £100.
"Some farmers have said they will donate the proceeds from two sheep."
"If folk have anything they want to donate to the auction, we want to hear from them."
The sheep will go under the hammer of Mr Graham Gibb at the town’s Market Stance, and there will also be donation boxes on the day of the sale.
Anyone wanting to donate items for the auction should contact Mr Kirk on (01479) 821348 or Mr Victor Watson, c/o Alvie Home Farm, by Kincraig, on (01540) 651228.
Alternatively, cheques can be made out to the Strathspey Farmers’ Club.
Mr McBain hailed from a long line of family of noted stockmen who often topped the local sales – and the third generation to have farmed at Ballinluig Farm.
