Auction swansong nets $400,000

SUCCESS: Tauranga Police CIB Charity Auction founding trustee Pete Blackwell helped raise more than $400,000 for community organisations at yesterday's event.PHOTOS/ANDREW WARNER

The 20th and final Tauranga Police CIB Charity Auction went out with a bang - raising more than $400,000.

That brings the total amount raised over the 20 years of the event to more than $2.3 million donated to local charity groups.

Yesterday's luncheon was attended by 1500 guests who raised more than $400,000. Of that number, $60,000 was raised before the event started at midday yesterday and $333,000 was raised through the silent and live auctions.

Agee jars placed on the tables were filled with $20 and $50 notes and event founding trustee Detective Sergeant Pete Blackwell said there was no doubt this collection would bring the total to more than $400,000.

Entertainer Jackie Clarke was Master of Ceremonies and guest speaker was former Australian cricketer Greg Ritchie.

There were many moments of excitement throughout the day.

Lot three, a one-of-a-kind handmade quilt donated by local quilter Sheryl Farrow through St John's Ambulance, sparked a bidding war and eventually sold for $26,000.

The quilt was a tribute to the Bay's sporting legends and featured 20 male and female silhouettes in a variety of sport-related activities.

Each image was signed by a Bay sporting star, including Dame Susan Devoy, Sam Cane, Sarah Walker, Kane Williamson, Sir Gordon Tietjens, Mahe Drysdale, Irene Van Dyk, Gemma Flynn, Lisa Carrington, Moss Burmester and Joseph Millar.

Other lots selling for five figures included a 225 litre barrel of Mills Reef wine, selling for $29,000 and a Kubota RTV 400, which was purchased for $21,000 and immediately donated to Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Judge Paul Geoghegan took to the stage to thank Mr Blackwell for his 20-year contribution to the charitable event.

"For 20 years, Pete has just got up here and thanked everyone else. It's time that we all thanked Blackie.

"I don't think anyone here could appreciate the energy and commitment that Pete has invested to put on this show," he said.

"You [Mr Blackwell] have changed the lives of so many people in this community, it's impossible to calculate the difference you've made."

Mr Blackwell took to the stage at the closing of the auction to give his thanks to all involved and to his family for their support.

He told the crowd how he and the other Tauranga Police CIB Charitable Trust trustees had put a lot of thought into ending the popular event.

"To go out on our own terms on top of our game was really, really important. There's no cracks in our team or in our system.

"We thought about a new owner and we couldn't find one. It's difficult to take over this kind of event.

"We wanted to go out on top of our game - and we certainly are."