Tue 1 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Alistair Wilkinson Award-winning gay journalist and SKY News Director and presenter Alistair Wilkinson has been confirmed as the MC for the upcoming GABA Dinner and Charity Auction. The event is the biggest annual fundraiser for glbti causes and activities in the country, with proceeds disbursed through the GABA Trust for events and initiatives to support glbti people. Several scholarships are each year awarded to gay students engaged in studies which will benefit the gay communities. “The auction is our main fundraiser for the important work of the GABA Charitable Trust,” says Trust Chair Gresham Bradley. “For many years, the Trust has helped members of our community to achieve their goals. Our tertiary scholarships have helped young men and women attend their first year of studies, and last year we opened our Pride Grants to assist groups to participate in the new Auckland Pride Festival and Parade.” Performers on October 20 will include the recently crowned Mr Gay World, Chris Olwage; Pacific drag icons, Buckwheat, Tess Tickle and Venus Mantrapp; torch song jazz singer, Briar Ross; and New Zealand’s Queen of Burlesque, Miss Leda Petit. Top grossing items in 2012 were $1,650 for a two-week stay at a fabulous Bali villa, donated by Glenn Sims; $1,500 for a stunning glitter screenprint by New Zealand artist Reuben Paterson, donated by the artist; and $1,350 for a four-course dinner at Camperdown, the official residence of the American Ambassador David Huebner. The Dinner and Auction evening will also feature one of the last appearances by Huebner, who is nearing the end of his term as ambassador to New Zealand, and his partner. Offers of donations of items for this year’s charity fundraiser can be made before Friday 11 October to: juju@goodjuju.co.nz
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 1st October 2013 - 11:16am