Real estate agent Hugh Bateman driven to raise $250,000 for McGrath Foundation

If you’ve seen a man on a pink tractor driving down the highway at 27km/h, that’s Hugh Bateman, and he’s on a mission.

The real estate agent and auctioneer is driving 2600km through NSW to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer care.

With support from a network of independent real estate agencies along the way, he hopes to raise a $250,000 for the McGrath Foundation.

So far Mr Bateman has driven his tractor on the Pink Tractor Trek through Mudgee, Dunno, Orange, West Wyalong, Griffith, Goulburn, Wollongong and Epping, and raised $115,000.

“The office teams have been wearing pink, and in Epping they had these little cupcakes with my little pink tractor on them,” he says. “It’s phenomenal what the agents have been doing.”

Mr Bateman says he planned the fundraiser because he wanted to do something practical to help the growing number of women and men affected by the disease.

Rather than focusing on research, the McGrath Foundation provides funding for breast care nurses, particularly for regional areas.

“They are able to offer as a free service to the patient both physical and psychological support,” says Mr Bateman.

There are currently 105 breast care nurses, and Mr Bateman says they hope to be able to immediately fund five more nurses and increase the amount of hours the nurses can work.

“In the past 10 years they’ve helped something like 36,000 clients, and we saw it as a very worthy cause.”

On Sunday, he and his pink tractor will show up at Manly for a breakfast event that will be attended by NSW Premier Mike Baird and Glen McGrath.

The Nippers at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club will be out to support the Pink Tractor Trek on Sunday. Photo: Supplied

Cunninghams Real Estate director John Cunningham has organised Sunday’s big event, with support and appearances from the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club and their little Nippers.

“It’s going to be a very colourful event; we’ll be going all out,” says Mr Cunningham, who will be wearing a pink tutu at the breakfast.

With plenty of pink cupcakes, bacon and egg rolls, he says he’s pleased the premier and Glen McGrath himself have agreed to get behind the cause and come along to the Manly event.

“When something like this comes up, we [the independent real estate network] all rally behind it,” he says. “This inspiration of Hugh being able to sit on a tractor all day to raise money is really incredible.”

Mr Bateman began his tractor trek in Mudgee on October 9. He plans to finish on October 31 back in Mudgee after covering around 2600km.

While driving a slow tractor down major highways hasn’t been without its setbacks – and a couple of flat tyres – he says it’s been an amazing tool for raising awareness.

“I’m driving along the highways and I get horns tooting, truckies calling me, police stopping me to donate and other drivers stopping me to give me donations,” says Mr Bateman.

“It’s amazing the support I’ve gained.”

Cunninghams Real Estate are holding a fundraising event for the Pink Tractor Trek from 8am on Sunday at the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club, with appearances from Hugh Bateman and the pink tractor, Premier Mike Baird, and former cricketer Glen McGrath.