This club’s efforts and networks have raised more than $60,000 from their Treasured Art Auctions over the past three years, with proceeds donated to the Foundation for Youth Development's Kiwi Can programme.
Three of Tauranga Sunrise's long-standing members combined their talents to create a unique and satisfying fundraising event. Ross Brown and his wife Lynne have the art knowledge, Sally Morrison brought the business expertise, and Mary O’Sullivan provided the sales and marketing edge, with other club members also supporting this successful fundraising campaign.
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| Treasured Art 2012 organiser Sally Morrison and the charity auction’s guest artist Peter Wallers (photo courtesy of Sun Media) |
A wonderful art scene is created at Ingham-Sears Mercedes-Benz showroom in Mount Maunganui. Each year in June, some 50 pieces of work go under the hammer, with a further amount on display for sale and silent auction.
The popular event combines an auction evening with a three-day art exhibition and sale. Some of the art is donated by people changing or downsizing homes, and those who simply don’t have the space for the art they have collected over the years. The rest of the art is sold on a 50/50 commission basis.
A known artist or collection is featured each year. In 2010, the auction sold a beautiful collection donated by Joy Drayton (1916-2012), DNZM, MBE, former Tauranga Girls College principal and local body politician. The exhibition featured works by nationally-known Tauranga artist Arthur Dagley in 2011, and in 2012 works by guest artist Auckland-born Peter Wallers, who now works out of his studio in Tauranga.
The city's mover and shaker guests are greeted with a glass of champagne, and nibbles are handed out all evening, while the auctioneer cajoles them into opening their wallets for magnificent pieces of art.
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| Buyers, Rotarians, Kiwi Can leaders and students supporting the very successful Tauranga Sunrise Treasured Art Auction in the Ingham Sears Mercedes Benz showroom |
Support for the major fundraiser has come from Ingham-Sears Mercedes-Benz (venue), the New Zealand Cadet Corps (art security), Sun Media Tauranga (for The Weekend Sun promotion and articles), Frank Vosper (auctioneer), and the local Tauranga Sunrise Rotary members providing logistics, hosting and handling sales.
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| A Paul Ny piece goes under the hammer at the Tauranga Sunrise Treasured Art fundraiser |
Kiwi Can is the national primary school programme that teaches essential life skills and values such as resilience, respect, integrity and manners. It is a whole school programme with all children attending a Kiwi Can lesson once a week during the school year. Specially trained Kiwi Can leaders work in pairs delivering the high energy, interactive and, most importantly, fun lessons. The leaders encourage the children to take responsibility and be accountable for their actions, they instil a sense of self-worth and self-confidence, and above all they engrain a `can do' attitude to the challenges of life.
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| Students from a Tauranga Primary School assisting with a Kiwi Can community project |
For further details, contact Robyn Skelton of the Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise, phone +64 21 275 8034.
Additional
For information about Kiwi Can:
http://www.fyd.org.nz/Programmes/KiwiCan(Year18)/AboutUs.aspx
