Fancy bidding for dinner with Maryan Street? Dinner with MP Maryan Street, a work by contemporary New Zealand artist Michael Parekowhai and a walk-on role on Shortland Street are just some of the items which will go under the hammer at next month’s GABA GOLD Charity Auction however a two-night getaway at Heritage Hotel’s Waterfront Suites in the Bay of Islands, complete with an Alfa Giulietta for the long weekend courtesy of Andrew Simms Mitsubishi, is also among the auction items already confirmed. The event in The Great Room at The Langham Hotel on Sunday 6 November will be the Gay Auckland Business Association’s major fundraiser of 2011 for its Charitable Trust, which has given out community grants and tertiary scholarships totalling over $175,000 throughout the last decade. Last year’s GABA Charity Auction and Dinner raised over $18,500 for the Trust to distribute back to the community. GABA Charitable Trust Chairman Gresham Bradley says the auction is the centrepiece of a spectacular evening of glamour and entertainment. “The GABA Charity Auction has become the biggest night of our fundraising year,” he says. “We are always incredibly grateful to the variety of businesses throughout New Zealand that generously donate these fabulous items, as well as all the wonderful people that don their glad rags and dig deep to bid.” The Master of Ceremonies will be Fair Go host Alison Mau, who says she’s delighted to be involved in the event for the first time. “We all know how hard it is to fund these kinds of services, and how a lot of students can’t afford to pursue their dreams and go on to study at a tertiary level, so it’s great to be part of an event like this,” says Mau. Mau’s personal troupe of assistants for the night will include Pacific drag icons Buckwheat and Tess Tickle, contemporary dancer Christopher Olwage, and New Zealand’s Queen of Burlesque, Miss Leda Petit. Back again as GABA Auctioneer is Michelle Maitland from George Walkers Auctions. The evening’s programme of live entertainment will include performances from tenor Cameron Barclay, a Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist for New Zealand Opera; duetting double bassists Darija Andzakovic and Adam McCoy; trumpeter Nick Hall, an APO Young Achiever; and APRA Award-winning composer and DJ Samuel Holloway. GABA is currently seeking the donation of auction items, and says donating to the GABA Charity Auction Email tickets@gaba.org.nzto arrange payment by credit card, or direct credit into the GABA bank account: ANZ 01 0249 0194883 00 2. GABA Golden Tickets are available to purchase in person at the following LGBT outlets: DNA Bar, Lolabar, Marvel Menswear, Social Café
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 18th October 2011 - 10:33am