FOR twenty years Rotary Club of Ballarat West has held an annual wine auction raising funds for the Ballarat community.<\/p>\n
While it has always been a Club effort organising the event, members Barry Bedggood and Dr John Richmond were the faces at the front of the fundraiser.<\/p>\n
Last week was the last time that Club they officiated the auction.<\/p>\n
Dr Richmond, said to have the best wine knowledge of the team, worked alongside Mr Bedggood collecting the wine for auction.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years what Barry and I\u2019ve done is approach wineries, individuals we know outside Rotary and members of the Club for donations,\u201d said Dr Richmond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would then put the wine in lots to make them attractive for one reason or another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie Bedggood, Barry\u2019s wife, typed up the auction catalogues by lot, with what they considered to be the least expensive first and end the night with the most expensive wines up for sale.<\/p>\n
Dr Richmond said they will still be involved in making it a successful event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just decided that we wouldn\u2019t be the face on the night of the [future] wine auctions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Bedggood said it was always exhilarating and fun conducting the auction.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn and I are not withdrawing our assistance, it\u2019s just time for someone else to take the baton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On the night the 94 lots up for bidding realised a total of $6700 while raffle tickets sold for a hamper donated by club member Joy Taylor added $504 to the coffers.<\/p>\n
Club secretary Lidia Aitken said over $137,000 has been raised across the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year a different organisation is the recipient of the funds,\u201d Ms Aitken said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year was Her Majesty\u2019s turn to take home the money raised.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proceeds will support the theatre with the restoration works plus sponsor an honour board for the foyer listing the people and organisations involved in the refurbishment.<\/p>\n
At this stage none of the Club members have put their hand up to take on the auctioneering next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is early days yet,\u201d Dr Richmond said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR twenty years Rotary Club of Ballarat West has held an annual wine auction raising funds for the Ballarat community. While it has always been a Club effort organising the event, members Barry Bedggood and Dr John Richmond were the faces at the front of the fundraiser. Last week was the last time that Club […]<\/p>\n