Considerably over $30,000 dollars has been raised for gay charitable causes this evening by members and friends of GABA, the Gay Auckland Business Association. Auctioneer Michelle Maitland about to bring the gavel down on another item The annual GABA Charity Auction and luncheon, held in the Hilton Hotel overlooking Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, featured items from the luxurious to the quirky, with the big ticket item, a romantic five night holiday at The Havannah in Vanuatu, going for $4,300. An unexpected item was offered up by National and Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, a gavel to be signed by the leaders of all the Parliamentary political parties to march 30 years since homosexual law reform. The auction was hosted by Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup who spoke to the 160 people present of the time that he realised that "my sexuality and my sport could co-exist." He described the auction catalogue, made up of items such as whiskey and champagne, tickets to major and boutique performance events, brass sculptures, paintings, kitchen appliances, car tyres, ASB Tennis Final tickets, and a lifebuoy rescued from the long-gone Auckland institution Flora's brothel as containing "the most camp and fabulous collection since the Liberace estate was auctioned." 73 items featured in the main auction and an accompanying silent auction. Friendly rivalries broke out between tables purchased supporting banks ANZ and ASB and political parties Labour and National. Musical performances and a luncheon featuring duck, shrimp, lamb and salmon rounded out the four-hour long event. Proceeds from the annual auction are passed to the GABA Charitable Trust for disbursing to glbti causes and projects and student grants. Applications for financial assistance relating to participation in the forthcoming Auckland Pride Festival will open next week and for grants for more generalised community projects will be accepted in March.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 15th November 2015 - 7:45pm