Tamati Coffey Dance lessons with Tamati Coffey and Candy Lane will go under the hammer at the annual Gay Auckland Business Association (gaba) charity auction, on Friday 30 July. The gaba Charitable Trust has revamped the event, which is usually held in December, as 'Jubilee', to acknowledge and celebrate its 25 years supporting the gay community. The black tie auction will be held at the SkyCity Maritime Museum function room on the Viaduct Harbour. The ticket price has not yet been announced, but it will include a silver-service three-course dinner and entertainment. Gaba president Gavin Hyde says combining the 25 year anniversary with its auction is the perfect way to raise funds to enable the association to continue its important charity work. Aside from dance lessons with Coffey and Lane from Dancing With the Stars, a consultation with celebrity gardener Tony Murrell and a 'unique item' signed by Prime Minister John Key will also be up for auction. For the first time, the public will also be able to bid on lots on Trade Me, which will include items donated by Navman and a winning match ball signed by Wellington Phoenix and All Whites Coach Ricki Herbert. Chair of the Charitable Trust Gresham Bradley says Jubilee will set a new level for events in the GBLT community. "We want to see more money being raised to support the many organisations in need. The gaba Charitable Trust is the only non-aligned charity with a completely open application process and of course we are hoping to grow the gaba Tertiary Scholarships to help talented young GBLT men and women get a good education." In the past decade alone the gaba Charitable Trust has donated in excess of $150,000 to a broad range of organisations. Recipients have included Rainbow Youth, OUTLine and numerous lesser known, but equally vital, organisations and projects in the wider GLBT community. The trust aims to donate money where it is most needed, and where it have the greatest impact. Gaba is calling for more items for the auction – anyone who can help is asked to contact Andy Smith at 021 474740 or andysmith@ihug.co.nz or go to the gaba website
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 29th June 2010 - 2:02pm