Rotary charity luncheon organisers "beavering" away

CHARITY LUNCHEON: Don Gollan (left) is the event chairman of the Rotorua Charity Luncheon, with guest speaker Rob Waddell. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua's five Rotary clubs are still "beavering" away on ticket sales and scoring amazing auction items as the Rotary Rotorua Charity Luncheon approaches.

The event will be held on November 11 at the Energy Events Centre, and will include live and silent auctions, and a lunch.

Event chairman Don Gollan said they had sold about 400 seats to date, with another 200 to sell.

He said they were also flat out getting "some really nice auction items in".

He said a couple up for grabs included five laps in a Lamborghini at Hampton Downs and entry for two people in the NZME broadcasting box at Forsyth Barr Stadium for a game, though which game is yet to be confirmed.

Mr Gollan said they also had some nice pamper packages for women from businesses such as Polynesian Spa.

"We've been getting very positive support from businesses in Rotorua."

He said they would be two thirds of the way to reaching the number of auction items they were hoping to get for the event.

They would also be using the very popular electronic bidding system, Mr Gollan said.

Rob Waddell, Olympic gold medallist rower and chef de mission for the New Zealand Olympic team in Rio this year will be the guest speaker.

Mr Gollan said they were very keen to get other Olympians along to the event, with a couple in the process of being confirmed.

He said if they were able to make it they would be interviewed on the experience of going to the Olympic Games.

"We are all looking forward to a really good day. The five Rotary clubs are beavering away.'

He said the Rotary charity luncheon would give people the opportunity to spend an afternoon being entertained, the ability to network and buy some great sporting and lifestyle auction items.

"It's a great opportunity to support Rotary and our endeavours to raise money for very worthy organisations."

In a previous Rotorua Daily Post story, charity luncheon trustee Mike Bannister said last year's inaugural event raised $90,000 for numerous Rotorua charities.

This year they are hoping to raise between $120,000 to $130,000.

The major beneficiaries this year are St Chad's Charitable Trust, Heart Foundation Rotorua and Plunket Rotorua.

The pool beneficiaries are Rotorua Chaplaincy Trust, Older Persons Community Centre (Parksyde), Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rotorua Trails Trust, Kiwican, Tipu Ora and Lifelink Samaritans Rotorua.

Mr Gollan said Pukeroa Oruawhata Charitable Trust was a major supporter of the event.