Good Friday Appeal auction sets new record

A BIG crowd witnessed this year’s Good Friday Appeal (GFA) auction house in Mount Duneed raise a record amount for The Royal Children’s Hospital.

After a 22-bid contest, Maddison Leubker from Point Cook emerged as the new owner of the fully furnished and professionally landscaped Juno 442-D48 home in Electric Crescent, built by Henley, with support from volunteers, trades and suppliers, on land donated by Villawood Properties.

The no-reserve auction opened at $800,000 and accelerated from there, with more than a dozen bidders expressing interest in the luxury four-bedroom, double-storey home in the Armstrong Mt Duneed estate before auctioneer Paul Tzamalis brought the hammer down at $1,150,500.

Maddison said she and husband Rheace, parents to two-year-old Mia, had been looking around the Armstrong Creek area for the past year but was left almost speechless by her win in the tightly-contested auction.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said immediately after the record result.

“I think my husband’s in shock. He called me and asked ‘How are we going? I said ‘We just spent a whole lot of money!’.”

The couple’s new home is just 10 minutes from Maddison’s parents, Sandy and Colin Eade, in Torquay.

“It hasn’t settled in just yet but I’m very excited,” Maddison said.

Henley general manager of marketing Tindi Sorbera said auction day was always a proud moment for Henley.

“Each year, this project highlights the incredible potential when people come together for a greater cause. Achieving a record-breaking sale, surpassing last year’s $1.11 million, is the cherry on top.

“To every tradie, supplier, volunteer, and the Henley and Villawood teams, thank you. Your contributions will profoundly impact and save the lives of our most precious little ones.”

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said Armstrong Mount Duneed was chosen for its vibrant, family-friendly lifestyle and award-winning amenities.

“The home has absolutely everything a family needs. It’s right next door to Club Armstrong with its swimming pools, gym, sports courts and café. Mirrapoa Primary School is over the road from the club. Next door is Poa Banyul Community Hub with kindergarten, maternal and child health services and more.

“There’s the Mount Duneed Village with its IGA and specialty stores, Bunjil’s Nest district park directly opposite and the Armstrong Creek nature reserve and walking tracks.

“There’s public transport buses, Waurn Ponds station is 1km away and everything Geelong has to offer – plus the Surf Coast 10 minutes away and access to the Great Ocean Road and some of Australia’s very best beaches and resorts.”

This year’s house is the 46th Good Friday Appeal home, and GFA executive director Rebecca Cowan said the Charity House Auction was one of the most important fundraising activities in the event’s calendar each year.

“This year, Henley marks 33 years of building beautiful family homes and Villawood marks 16 years of donating land in the most welcoming of communities.” We cannot thank enough the hundreds of trades and suppliers who generously donate their time and resources to this incredible project.”