Good Friday Appeal auction moves on from Geelong

THE Good Friday Appeal auction has moved on from Geelong, with Villawood choosing a house in its Waratah estate in Mickleham to go under the hammer this Easter.

This year marks Henley’s 25th year of building and donating houses to the Good Friday Appeal, having created the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal’s (GFA) Charity Home Auction initiative in 1993.

The coming auction also marks the ninth year that the house (at 13 Harfield Avenue, Mickleham) has been built on land donated by Villawood Properties.

The RCH GFA Charity Home Auction has become one of Victoria’s most loved auction events and one of the biggest contributors to the appeal each year.

The 2017 auction of a home in Villawood’s Armstrong Mt Duneed estate in Armstrong Creek raised $627,500 alone towards that year’s total of more than $17 million.

It is anticipated that more than 400 big-hearted trades and suppliers will contribute to the construction of the 2018 RCH GFA Charity Home.

“With a no reserve at auction, the Good Friday Appeal Charity Home is a value-added house and land package up for grabs for one fortunate bidder – with not only a great result for the Royal Children’s Hospital but also for a family who can step into a stunning home in a new Villawood community – complete with the feel-good factor,” Henley managing director John Harvey said.

“I have personally experienced the care, skill and services of the Royal Children’s Hospital over three long years – with my grandson successfully finishing specialist treatment in 2016. I was so humbled to know that all of our hard work in fundraising contributes to such a meaningful cause, especially heartwarming considering the nature of treatments some children endure.”

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said it was a privilege to again be involved with the auction.

“At Villawood Properties, we know that it takes a significant collective feat to build and auction off a stunning house and land package.

“Sincere thanks to the continued efforts of the trades and suppliers who donate so much in creating something so special.”