Raglan Volunteer Coastguard “wouldn’t survive” without support from the community, says president Wally Hawken, who was delighted last week to receive a cheque for more than $4000 from an annual charity auction held early this month by the main local campground.
“We want to express our sincere appreciation to Kopua Holiday Park management for its effort,” he told the Chronicle. “Also for the support from all over the Raglan community — we literally wouldn’t survive without it.”
The extra funds will go into the organisation’s operational account to keep resources going, added Wally, mindful the 11-metre twin hull Coastguard boat and jetski together use well over $1000 in fuel each month.
There are also other ongoing costs, he adds, which are financed too through donations and local fundraising.
Holiday park assistant manager Jo Hamblyn says the auction is a “feel-good” event which this year saw a massive crowd bid generously for everything from campground t-shirts at $75 to nine unframed prints donated by Raglan West artist Jane Galloway, which fetched a “whopping” $1000 in total.
A Piwiwiwi campervan four-day rental went for $400 and an outsized twin meat pack from the local butchery was sold for more than $200.
Sunset cruises and surf lessons were also up for grabs.
Not one of the town’s business-owners from the previous year’s list hesitated when asked to contribute goods or services to the charity auction, Jo says. “And there were lots of new ones (contributors).”
Raglan Real Estate’s Julie and Dave Hanna played auctioneers at the campground for the evening, and considering bidders came mostly from the camp’s 1000 holidaymakers on site it was an “awesome” effort, said Jo.
Edith Symes
