March 30, 2014
A charity auction held at the Quilter’s Rest near Kingaroy on Saturday afternoon has raised almost $7500 for Beyond Blue, the national organisation devoted to combatting depression.
This was an amazing effort considering there were a number of other major charity fundraisers running elsewhere in the region at the weekend.
The event, which took the form of a combined High Tea and auction, was organised by Quilter’s Rest owners Marion and Alan Lees at their Weens Road cattle property.
Quilters from the South Burnett and as far afield as Gayndah, Millmerran, Brisbane and Agnes Waters contributed a sumptuous range of 30 hand-sewn quilts to be auctioned.
The quilts were pinned to the homestead’s verandahs beforehand for inspection and the High Tea was laid out next to the property’s Bower Shed for the estimated 70 guests to snack on.
Visitors were entertained by Murgon comedian Mike O’Byrne before being addressed by Beyond Blue ambassador Marjorie Green about depression and the devastating effects the disease can have on individuals, their families and the community.
Auctioneer Glen Vonhoff then took centre stage to put the hand-made quilts under the hammer.
In all, the auction raised $7469 after expenses, a result which Marion said made everyone involved “very happy”.
The day was also assisted by Nanango Country Bakehouse, Labudda’s Disposals, Pro-Tec Light and Sound and the Wondai Kindergarten.
The auction isn’t the first such event held at the Lees’ property.
Two years ago a similar event raised $8200 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and before that, another get-together raised $6000 for a new cold room for Kingaroy’s Meals On Wheels.
Marion said she hoped the weekend’s fund-raising could persuade Beyond Blue to bring their Big Blue Bus to the South Burnett to assist locals fight depression.
At the moment, the closest the Beyond Blue Roadshow is coming to the South Burnett is Toowoomba from September 1-5.
- Related article: Quilt Auction Will Help Depression
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[UPDATED with correction]
