Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton raises almost $40,000 in radio auction, more than 400 items bid on

Another year and another successful radio auction for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton as it raised almost $40,000 at the weekend to top their previous fundraising record. The club’s biggest fundraiser was a hit for another year, with volunteers stuck to the phones and rushing to jot down telephone bids on Sunday. The 32nd Rotary Radio Auction sold almost 400 items throughout the day, raising $39,300 in total and beating last year’s $36,000 raised. The Rotary Club is hopeful to reach $40,000 as further donations come through. Club secretary Di Gilleland said some of the more popular items included holiday packages to Broome, Kalbarri and Shark Bay, a Yalgoo prospecting package and scenic flights. She thanked all donors and volunteers for their contributions this year, particularly the ones who had contributed to the auction for more than 30 years. “Thanks to all the old and the new businesses that donated,” she said. “It’s a combination of a lot of people, a lot of volunteers, people behind the scenes, very generous businesses and the public who rang in. They’re the ones who made the day a success. “Anybody that runs events are the same, those people behind the scenes as well as those on the front line. We’ve been spoilt with some fantastic people.” Ms Gilleland said the the money raised would be injected back into the community and she was thrilled to see so many bidders with smiles on their faces as they claimed their items. “When I went to the bank the day after, there was a line of people at the Bendigo Bank picking up their goodies,” she said. “They were so excited. All they could do was praise the auction and the Rotary.”