The small Flag Swamp school raised the equivalent of $500 per pupil at a school fair and auction, which was boosted by the Palmerston Farmers Market being held at the school on the day of the event.
The 15-pupil Flag Swamp school near Palmerston raised about $7500 at the fair and auction at the school, which was attended by several hundred people. More than half the total raised came from a 100-lot auction of farming equipment, which included tractors, fencing equipment, calves, lambs and hens.
A total of 100 intending buyers registered for the auction. Two tractors offered at the auction were still under negotiation and the auction total could rise further, Flag Swamp school principal Murray Oats said.
The Saturday Palmerston Farmers Market moved its venue to support the school, farmers market organiser Rowan Holt, of Palmerston, said.
The market would continue at Palmerston next Saturday, she said.
