A SOUTHERN Queensland farmer is preparing to harvest a Guiness World Record wheat crop that has raised more than $610,000 for organ transplant research.
In June, John Coggan and his family raced to plant the largest wheat crop in just 24 hours.
Standing in the middle of the 905 hectare crop on the family property 'Enarra' at Westmar, three hours west of Toowoomba, the 61-year-old farmer said the crop had exceeded his expectations.
Three years ago Mr Coggan was lying on his death bed in the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane before undergoing life saving heart transplant surgery.
Grateful for his second chance at life, Mr Coggan and his family regularly contribute to the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation’s Critical Care Research Group in the hope new medical break throughs will increase the odds of survival for other critically ill patients.
They took on the challenge of setting the world record as a means of raising extra funds for the research team and to raise awareness of the severe shortage of transplant organs in Australia.
Mr Coggan said sharing their story has helped to open up the discussion on organ donation. "We’re very grateful that so many people have rallied to raise money for further research. We’re even more grateful that sharing our story seems to have raised awareness of organ donation. That’s something money just can’t buy."
People wanting to donate to the Coggan’s Guinness World Record fundraiser can do so at any Rabobank branch.
Nine headers will be used by the Coggans to harvest crops across 10,900 hectares in less than three weeks.
The Guinness World record wheat paddock will be one of the first they harvest.
"It hasn’t done as well as some of our later planted paddocks. The rain has been sporadic but its still been a reasonable season and I’m hoping it will do 14 bags or a bit better," Mr Coggan said.
With 12 bags equating to a tone an acre it will be a good result.
