Olympians, auction items lined up for Rotary Rotorua Charity Luncheon (+ video)

With just a week to go until the Rotary Charity Luncheon it's shaping up to be a fun afternoon, featuring Olympians and priceless auction items - the latest of which will appeal to fans of the Eagles.

Event chairman Don Gollan said they had sold about 430 tickets and hoped to sell up to 500 before next Friday's event.

"The businesses we've asked have been very helpful, supportive and encouraging, and that says a lot about Rotorua businesses and the fact we are all working hard to help community organisations."

Olympic gold medallist rower Rob Waddell will be the guest speaker. Waddell was Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Olympic team in Rio.

Rotorua's Olympic rower Julia Edward and Auckland Paralympic swimmer Rebecca Dubber will also be attending.

Mr Gollan said the Olympians would be interviewed on stage.

Edward said she wanted to attend because the Rotorua community had been a great support during her years of rowing, right from high school, and there were great charities to raise money for.

She said she was looking forward to talking on stage about her Olympic experiences in Rio and London and her future in the sport, as well as catching up with familiar faces.

Auction leader Chris Smith said a contact in Australia had donated a framed and signed Eagles guitar.

The frame also includes photographs of the band and is signed by the four original members. A certificate of authenticity is included.

Mr Smith said it was nice to have an item that was a bit different to the norm.

"You can't beat the Eagles, they are a super-band. Getting something like this would be very unique."

Mr Smith said there were close to 140 items up for grabs and there would be 18 live auction items.

"There's some different items that may attract people. The more money we get the more we can give to these organisations which will be cool."

Other auction items include a signed portrait of Sir Colin Meads, six laps in a Lamborghini at Hampton Downs, and a framed and signed photo of the first double amputee to ascend Mount Everest, Mark Inglis.

The charity event, hosted by Rotorua's Rotary Clubs, will be held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

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

Other beneficiaries are Rotorua Chaplaincy Trust, Older Persons' Community Centre (Parksyde), Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rotorua Trails Trust, Kiwi Can, Tipu Ora and Lifelink Samaritans Rotorua.

The Details:
• What: Rotary Rotorua Charity Luncheon
• When: Friday, November 11
• Where: Rotorua Energy Events Centre
• Tickets: Ticketmaster, Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.