PERTH wholesalers and market workers have combined to raise $92,838 for charity at this year’s Annual Market City Charity Cherry Auction earlier this month.
Held in the Central Trading Area of the Perth Markets, donations on the day on behalf of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation totalled $92,838 with long-time supporter John Ale from Tony Ale & Co crowned Cherry King taking out the 5kg box of cherries with a bid of $45,000.
Since the Cherry Auction began in 1992 the Market Community has raised more than $1,109,000.
An amazing combined total of $47,000 was raised for the first boxes by the following bidders:
- John Ale, Tony Ale – $6000
- Rodney Dullard, Key Produce – $5000
- Gilbert Correia, Gilberts Fresh Markets – $10,000
- Tony Gatani, SJ Fresh – $7500
- Jimmy Park, Jimmy’s Mushrooms – $6000
- Hayden Conti, DAC Refrigeration Services – $5000
- Basil Gotsis, Fresh Provisions – $4000
- Ahmad Albirkawi, Mirrabooka Fresh – $3500
Organisers also acknowledged Toyota Materials Handling for running the sausage sizzle and raising $723 in donations; WB Pit Stop for providing coffees and collecting $115 in donations; auctioneer Peter Holmes; Simon Bloomfield for assisting and the Perth Markets Limited staff for providing their ongoing support for the event.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation Ambassadors, Eva and Andie McAuliffe also presented four generous supporters plaques in recognition of their past contributions:
- John from Tony Ale & Co over $180,000
- Joe from Napoli Mercato over $100,000
- Shawn from Fresh Provisions over $40,000
- Janine from Toyota Materials Handling over $10,000
Cherry boxes were organised by Gary Ferguson and donated by Cherry Lane Fields Manjimup, Newton Bros Manjimup and K Smart from Manjimup.
The Donnybrook Mens Shed again provided the ceremonial box for the 5kg of cherries.
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