Easter Auction

Our 2018 Easter Auction was an incredible day that exceeded our expectations. 

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who came along on the day, donated items for the Auction or Raffles, sponsored our event, assisted with set up/ clean up and/or deliveries, and generally supported our amazing school. We are proud to say that the combined efforts of a wonderful PTA, staff, children, families and community have raised a record amount of $35,000. This exceeded our last years record total of $33,000. What an incredible achievement by a wonderful team. 

The funds raised go to our PTA who fully support our school by providing resources, curriculum support, trips and events that would otherwise not be possible through normal financial means.  Basically it all goes back to our kids.

We had so many wonderful comments on the day from visitors who thoroughly enjoyed their day out. Well done everyone and thank you. 

We would like to thank all of our amazing Sponsors. Please support them whenever you can.

Our next Easter Auction will take place in 2019. 

THE HISTORY OF THE EASTER AUCTION 

The first Auction was held on 27th February 1988. The Awhitu District School PTA committee at the time was very active, holding many fundraising events throughout the year and the Auction was a new idea to try. The first Auction raised $1600.00, and included morning tea, a Trading Table, Pumpkins and the Auction.

In 1989, the Auction was held in the Matakawau Hall at Queen's Birthday weekend, with parents dropping off goods to be auctioned, a trading table and morning tea to be served from the kitchen.

In 1990 Easter Saturday was the day chosen for the Auction and this was to remain the day to the present. Many summer visitors return to the Peninsula at this time and it is a date that is remembered and does not clash with other events. 1990 was the first year that goods were collected on the Peninsula with two parents and one car and trailer. This was due to the small number of items that had been donated prior to the Auction. A cake stall was held, raffles sold and a Trading Table set up for produce and plants. It was noted that the personal touch worked well for the donation of goods.

 

In 1992 the Matakawau Hall was unavailable so it was suggested that the Auction be held on the school grounds. An offer from the ranger at the Awhitu ARC Park led to the Auction in 1992 being held in the woolshed at the Park. This was very successful with the main goods being displayed and auctioned in the sheep pens. The trading tables were set up inside the woolshed. Raffles, morning tea and sausages were sold – a rural auction atmosphere was created enhanced by the smell of sheep. The Auction continued at the Park until 1996. It was growing in size and reputation every year. Pick up areas were developed, families were allocated specific tasks and the community both local and further afield was getting behind the event.

In 1996 the Auction moved to the Awhitu School Grounds at Matakawau Village. The Auction was set up using tents for the main Auction on the school field and classrooms for the other items such as clothing, Bric-a Brac and books. This Auction in 1996 raised $7000.00 and was declared the biggest so far.  

In 1990, the Auctioneer asked for the lots to be reduced to 150. Today 25 years later the PTA offers over 900 lots with the main Auction divided into inside and outside items.  The PTA have groups of parents working for 4-6 hours collecting donated goods from designated areas on the Awhitu Peninsula from Manukau Heads to J Renall Rd and Waiuku.   Gone is the car and trailer and trucks are the main transporter.   

For the past eight years the amount raised each Easter has been in excess of $20,000 – an amazing amount of 'giving' from a very supportive community.

The weather can be fickle for the Auction and cover is provided by a series of tents. The PTA is generously supported by local community groups such as the Matakawau Hall Committee and the BHP NZ Steel Social Club. Local businesses in Waiuku and Pukekohe provide the rest of the tent cover and our School Pavilion building is used for Cafe food and beverage throughout the day. 

Who knows what will be up for Auction? The local community is very generous and in recent years the PTA has been offered a round baler, a boat and trailer, a tractor, a truck, a car and a pop up camper for the rural outside goods auction. Bikes, barbeques, treadmills, garden gear, fish smokers, knapsack sprayers, sinks, trees and tiles are examples of what was auctioned.   Inside we have a gigantic selection of cutlery, dinnerware, glasses, furniture, beds, bedding and hundreds of box lots of assorted treasure. Have some fun bargaining with the guys in the Electrical tent. All electrical goods are tested before being priced and offered for sale. There is a classroom full of books and magazines. Home baking, sandwiches and tea and coffee are available from our Café as well as sustaining food from the barbecue.

 

The White Elephant room always throws up an incredible treasure or two. An alligator handbag has appeared before and there has is always a piece of collectible china or two – Burleighware, Crown Lynn, Wedgwood, Poole for the discerning eye. 

Raffles are always available too and there are several of these up for grab on the day. The PTA offered a tour of the Control Tower at the Auckland International Airport, this is a very rare opportunity to go behind the scenes. 

If you are not into recycling, then some incredible artwork donated by local artists is offered for auction. This particular part of the auction has proved very popular over more recent years and the PTA appreciates the support from these very talented, local people. There is something for everyone. 

Where does the money go? The children of course!! The PTA has moved in a new direction in the past few years. Money for property and fixed assets is easy to allocate as people see concrete results for their fundraising efforts, however money spent on bus transport, school camps and consumable items is often not seen as being as important.

 

Awhitu School provides a wide range of learning experiences for children, on and off the Peninsula and aims to keep the cost of these experiences at an affordable level for families. This is achieved through the money raised at our Easter Auction.  The Annual Easter Auction provides most of our funds for the year. In the past, the PTA funded swimming instruction, classroom consumables, buses to Senior and Junior Camps at Bombay, Matamata, Motutapu Island and Whangaparaoa Peninsula and subsidise student camp costs.

Contributions to school resources made during each year include maintenance to the school pool, providing new Junior reading kits and Special Needs resources and funding new staging for the school production.

 

Every year the PTA aims to provide the same experiences for children, as well as funding for computer upgrades and to setting up the new teaching facility in the school.

 

The PTA achieves this with the help of our school families, 6 teachers, a supportive Principal and a strong local community.