The new harbour bridge, a cruise ship near Mauao, and Bay beach scenes. These are just some of the subjects of 55 photographs which will go under the hammer to raise money for those in need. It's part of the annual Bay of Plenty Times/Bethlehem Foundation Photo Auction. Last year $10,000 was raised,including $7000 from the auction itself. Bay of Plenty Times photographers selected some of their best images of scenes of the Bay to go up for auction. The images can be seen online from today at www.bethlehemfoundation.org.nz and bids can be made online. The auction night will be held at the Sebel Trinity Wharf on Thursday June 10 by Eves auctioneer Gordon Stewart. This year, Bay of Plenty Times readers have the chance to enter their own photos to be included in the auction. The winner will receive a Canon EOS450D and double lens kit from Carters Photographics. The top three photos will be included in the charity auction. Bethlehem Foundation chief executive Peter Wyatt said proceeds from this year's auction would be split between the foundation and IDEA Services, part of the IHC. "This is the fifth year we have done the charity auction with the Bay of Plenty Times," Mr Wyatt said. "Each year since the first, we have chosen to give a proportion of the money we raise from photos to another charity." The Bethlehem Foundation became aware of the work done by IDEA Services, and nominated the organisation as this year's recipient. "Over the past year or two we have seen quite a lot of IDEA Services in action and we were enormously impressed with the level of commitment there was," Mr Wyatt said. "We were blown away by the level of care [they give]." IDEA Services plans to use the money raised to set up a remedial toy library. IDEA (Intellectual Disability Empowerment in Action) Services is part of IHC. The service takes care of the vocational, residential, and family/whanau needs of intellectually disabled people. To enter your photograph, email it as a jpeg (min 300dpi and up to 5MB) to kim.livingstone@
bayofplentytimes.co.nz.
