She knew her efforts would pay off for the threatened birds even though some "people doubted it would last the distance", she told The Daily Post.
"It was grassroots. Lots of people said it was really brave to do as a conservation thing. Others suggested that conservation was something that wouldn't last the distance. Back then it wasn't on the radar for people. They always thought conservation was done by the Government."
But survive they have, successfully caring for around 600 wild falcons and returning them to the wild once fit enough, into places as far south as Otago and in the wider central North Island, winning awards for their efforts.
They have physically hand-bred about 1000 birds using methods dating back 4000 years to train them before being released at six months.
Ms Stewart said they knew the bird population was growing because people were noticing the birds and notifying the sanctuary.
"We stack the odds so they do survive."
What she is most proud of is educating people and vineyard owners where some birds are released. This has allowed the birds to breed in the wild freely.
"People used to kill them. They weren't aware how significant they were. People are more aware today."
The trust is hosting the auction on Saturday night after the dinner with a multitude of collectable items to buy including a matching set of Dan Carter and Honor Dillon signed sports balls, Auckland Zoo animal encounters, a night with event speaker Dr Ruud Kleinpaste, $5 notes signed by Sir Edmund Hillary, and one of Rotorua photographer Andrew Warner's mounted God's Road exhibition pieces.
