A STACK of five dollar bills totalling $1000 might have stolen a little of the spotlight from Inverell Furniture Court’s 10-year anniversary celebration last Thursday. Nevertheless, it was all part of a heartfelt cause.
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Store owners Ian and Michelle Rees had an auction of a La-Z-Boy recliner for Inverell’s Operation Operating Room (OOR). Locals Andrew and Lisa Daw took the chair home for $900.
Ian said though the event featured a $10,000 furniture giveaway, it was the chance to give toward the local charity that drew some visitors.
“There were about three bidders that were here to bid on the chair for the fundraiser. They were sort of purposely here.
“Even some, not many, but about 10 to 15 out of 140 said they didn’t even want a ticket when they came in the building, so they were here as spectators or just to support us I suppose.”
Ian said local auctioneer Stuart Berryman gave the auction a special significance, encouraging bidders to recall the money might fund medical equipment needed by their own family someday.
The nearly inch-thick stack of $5 bills came from a man Ian said had chosen the publicized event to contribute the $1000 to OOR.
“It was a big surprise to all of us I think, and obviously to Di Baker and Pam Weste. They’re the ladies who were looking after that fundraiser,” Ian said. An additional $216 in donations was also raised that evening.
Ian said the celebration was successful with local personality Peter Caddey smoothly guiding the event. He added that furniture chosen in the draws seemed to find the right fit, with people who were in need of just that item.
“It was a very good night.”