Memorabilia auction to support domestic violence campaign

SPORT lovers will have the chance to bid for rare memorabilia with proceeds going towards the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond’s domestic violence campaign.

The auction will be held at Cherry Street Sports Club on Sunday, November 9.

About 30 collectables from cricket, horse racing and rugby league will be up for grabs.

The items have been donated by former publican Brendan and Lyn Byrne with most of the memorabilia coming from the walls of The Shaws Bay Hotel.

One of the pieces is a framed photo of boxing legend Muhammad Ali and rock’n’roll icon Elvis Presley after one of his Las Vegas shows in 1974.

Rotarian Dave Harmon has been at the forefront of raising domestic violence awareness around Ballina in recent years with a focus on school-based programs in ongoing fundraising efforts.

“Brendan and Lyn wanted to donate half of the money, but with the quality of items I wanted them to keep 60 per cent of it,” he said.

“They’ve had all the items in their lounge room for a couple of years now and we were the first ones they rang because they wanted to support us.

“It will help with our domestic violence walk later this month and with funding for the Love Bites program we run in the schools.–

“Some of the stuff might go for a decent amount, we just won’t know until the day, but I’m sure there will be plenty of interest for collectors and other people.”

The memorabilia items include signed pieces from the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and former Australian cricket captain Allan Border.

There is a framed portrait of Souths club legend Ron Coote as well as jerseys from the Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs.

Champion jockey Darren Beadman has signed parts of his racing attire which have been framed along with Rabbitohs legend John Sattler who has signed a photo.

All the auction items are available for viewing at rotaryclubofballinaonrichmond.org.au/auction