On-line auction for Guide Dog Services

Media Release
Date 30.11.2009

On-line auction to raise funds for Guide Dog Services

Top class accommodation, designer artwork, rare Beatles LPs on vinyl, dinner at casual cafes, and a sports package, are among some of the fantastic items on offer in a charity auction to raise money for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’s Guide Dog Services.

The on-line auction – running through TradeMe from Friday November 27 – is being organised by Bayleys Wellington Residential. Bayleys is premier sponsor of the Guide Dog Services organisation nationwide, and to date has raised $1.86million for the cause – enabling more than 80 guide dogs to be bred, raised and trained to help improve the lives of visually impaired New Zealanders.

Among the charity auctions items Bayleys is listing on TradeMe are:
• Two nights at Carlton Gore B&B (worth $500)
• A night for two and breakfast the following morning at the luxurious Bolton Hotel
• An original box set of Beatles LPs on vinyl and an early George Harrison LP
• Dinner for two at Elements Café
• A $120 gift voucher from Olive Café in Cuba Street
• A $50 voucher for Picnic Café at Wellington's gorgeous botanic gardens
• Court hire and four cans of tennis balls at the Renouf Tennis Centre, donated by The Tennis Centre
• A 6.5ft designer Christmas tree from I Love Christmas Ltd
• Two framed charcoal pictures by artist Gary Bennett
• A framed panoramic photo of Wellington Harbour

The items will be listed under the TradeMe trader name ‘bayleys_gds’. Bayleys Wellington residential sales manager Babette Newman said funds raised from the TradeMe auctions would help support training for a new guide dog in the greater Wellington region.

Also on auction is a package of ‘absolutely nothing’ – where bidders will literally be bidding on… absolutely nothing. The package can be shipped free to anywhere in New Zealand, is totally transferable to friends, or family, and can be bequeathed to others in the event of the successful bidder’s unfortunate demise.

“Bayleys has already sold the ‘absolutely nothing’ package at the Bayleys Te Omanga Hospice Vintners’ Lunch charity fundraising events this year and last year – where it fetched $950 and $750 respectively,” Ms Newman said.

“The successful buyer of last year’s ‘absolutely nothing’ package at the Vintners’ Lunch has enjoyed more than a year’s use from his purchase – including lending it out to friends - and has kindly re-donated the item back up for auction for someone else to enjoy. ‘Absolutely nothing’ is the perfect present for someone who has absolutely everything.

“These auctions are a great chance for people to get their Christmas shopping done early, and help contribute to a very worthwhile cause at the same time,” Ms Newman said.

“With such a wide diversity of items on auction, there’s something to tempt most tastes – with all proceeds going to Guide Dog Services. Of course, this whole campaign could not have been made possible if it wasn’t for the generous support of all the sponsors who so kindly donated items to sell.

“Their support of this incredibly worthwhile cause has underpinned its success and is extremely welcome by us as organisers, and Guide Dog Services as the charity recipient.”

The Bayleys Wellington Residential Guide Dog Services TradeMe auction begins on Friday November 27 and runs for 10 days.
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