Good Friday charity auction has new hammer for 2021

REIV master auctioneer and four-time winner of the Senior Auctioneering competition, Adrian Butera, is set to pass on the hammer for this year’s Good Friday Appeal Charity Home auction after 13 years of setting auction records for the important cause.

This year the top job will be manned by the 2020 winner of REIV’s annual Senior Auctioneering competition, Andy Reid, who steps up to the plate on Friday, April 2.

On the block this year is the beautiful Henley Vogue 34 home at Villawood Properties’ Rathdowne estate in Wollert.

The 2021 Charity House Auction marks 28 years of donating homes and raising more than $16 million for the Good Friday Appeal to date.

Gil King, REIV CEO, said it was a pleasure to work with Henley and Villawood to facilitate the no-reserve auction.

“Some of the very best Victorian auctioneers have been discovered through REIV’s competition,” Mr King said.

“We’re thrilled to be able to put forward Victoria’s top talent to facilitate the Good Friday Appeal’s Charity House Auction each year.”

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said it was good to be gearing up for another public auction after the 2020 auction was forced to a tender process.

“COVID cancelled the 2020 auction but we still sold the house and raised $790,500 for the kids,” Mr Costelloe said.

“But all the kind tradies who put so much time and effort into building the Charity Auction House didn’t get the opportunity to see the rewards of their work.

“It will be great to be back with a live auction so we can get a big crowd with everyone able to really appreciate the great effort that everyone’s gone to, to produce the house.

“The excitement of the live auction is great for the Good Friday Appeal itself, too.

“Of course, it’s not just the fantastic money that’s raised but also the amazing goodwill on the day, with everyone out again rattling tins, and in the months of preparation leading up to it.”

Henley Homes Victorian building manager Mark Glenn said the community’s support for the Good Friday Appeal continued to grow from strength to strength.

“Every person connected to the charity home build, from Henley Homes and Villawood to all the trades and suppliers, have a personal connection to the cause, or are very aware of the significant work and service the Royal Children’s Hospital provides,” he said. “When it comes to generosity, you don’t have to look further than our amazing team, trades and suppliers, who year after year continue to support the construction and delivery of a beautiful family home to auction, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the appeal.”

The auction will be streamed live through Anywhere Auctions, allowing bidders from across the country to throw their hat in the ring.

Organisers are expecting a record audience on Good Friday, setting the scene for the biggest public auction since COVID-19 restricted crowd numbers across the state.