House auction, Torquay efforts push up Good Friday Appeal total

JUST over $1 million will go to improving the health prospects of young patients at The Royal Children’s Hospital after the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) home was sold under the auctioneer’s hammer today (Friday, April 7) at Lara.

Geelong’s Ali Bandari is the proud new owner of a fully furnished Electra 35 Henley home at Villawood Properties’ Coridale estate in Lara, following an auction in front of hundreds of people at the Good Friday Appeal no-reserve auction.

The stunning family home, land and all the furniture were donated by Henley Homes, Villawood and more than 100 tradies and suppliers, and sold by REIV Auctioneer of the Year Luke Bonitsiotis for a final price of $1.01 million in an exciting family carnival event.

The winning bidder was thrilled with the outcome and is now not only the proud owner of a beautiful family home but also knows that all proceeds have gone to The Royal Children’s Hospital.

“I’m thrilled, I’m very excited, I couldn’t believe it,” Mr Bandari said after the auction.

“I was thinking it would go for around $920,000 or maybe a maximum of $950,000. But it was all for such a good cause so I went a bit more.”

Good Friday Appeal board member Peter Clark said the auction outcome was a “great result” for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“We’re so grateful for the efforts of Henley and Villawood and so many tradies and suppliers and others who have supported the auction and the appeal.

“It’s an enormous assistance to the quality of care the Royal Children’s is able to provide.”

The home, on a 512 sqm block on Coridale Boulevard opposite Villawood’s resort-style Club Coridale, is a two-storey, 36-square, four-bedroom home with grand alfresco, four living areas, and expansive master suite, and an ideal family home. Every piece of furniture, soft furnishing and decorative accessory inside the house was donated by key furniture partners and included as part of the auction price.

The auction was the highlight of a memorable day out for the local families, as well as Henley and Villawood staff, who enjoyed a street party spectacular complete with live entertainment, face-painting, kids rides, roaming dinosaurs, the Dulux Dog, sausage sizzle, coffee cart, food and ice cream trucks.

The 2023 auction marked Henley’s 31st year of building and donating houses to the Good Friday Appeal, raising more than $19.2 million to date. It is the 14^th year of Villawood donating land, with $10.4 million raised over the journey.

This year also marks Henley’s 44^th home for The Good Friday Appeal and is also Villawood’s largest philanthropic effort, among more than 90 smaller community groups and initiatives the developer supports.

Henley Properties Group chief executive officer Antony Blackshaw said Henley and all their trades and suppliers were proud the 2023 GFA House had contributed to raising more than $19 million since Henley started auctioning homes for GFA in 1993.

“The entire Henley team is over the moon by the continued generosity of our suppliers and tradespeople, who, year after year, donate their time to help create a stunning home to be auctioned off on Good Friday for the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

“We are thrilled to know that all of our hard work in fundraising contributes to such a meaningful cause and it is an honour to be part of it.

“With each passing year, this auction continues to be such significant event and with the community embracing it with such enthusiasm and support.  What a tremendous result once again.”

Villawood Properties chief executive officer Alan Miller said the auction result was great for everyone involved.

“It’s a great privilege to host a live auction like this and achieve such a fantastic result. The crowd was on board with us everyone understands and appreciates the great effort that’s gone into building the house.

“It’s been an exciting event and really highlighted what the Good Friday Appeal is all about. There’s the money raised, which goes to a really important cause, but there’s also a tremendous amount of goodwill we’ve seen in the months of preparation leading up to the appeal and today too of course with so many people rattling tins for the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

In Torquay, the excellent GFA fundraising efforts continued, with Torquay Lions and their many local helpers raised $41,500 for the GFA.

The local appeal more than tripled last year’s record of $13,000.

“We not only achieved our target, which initially was $20,000, but we finished the day with $41,500 for this year’s appeal,” CFA regional co-ordinator and Torquay Lions member Peter McMahon said.

He said community generosity, small projects by children, a Lions bowls day and many other donations had led to the new record.

“More than tripling last year’s figure almost leaves me speechless.

“Volunteer highway collectors from Deakin University, Torquay Lions Club, with help from Grovedale Fire Brigade and various other volunteers, all helped us achieve the $41,500.

“I thank all who supported the appeal so generously.”

According to McMahon, the Good Friday Appeal resonates with many local families who have had some contact or contacts with the Royal Children’s Hospital over the years.

“Almost every family has been touched as the Children’s Hospital has helped so many youngsters,” he said.

He said he expected a few more donations would be forthcoming to add to Torquay’s figure.

‘The Lions Club, which donated $11,000 raised at their Billy Ryan charity bowls day, promised a few more hundred dollars would be directed to the Appeal from money raised at a small online auction for a gymnasium membership voucher.”

The final total figure raised for this year’s GFA will be announced later tonight.