One of the standout moments from Nectar’s 10th-anniversary conference on the Gold Coast was our incredible auction night – and wow, what a night it was!
Even more incredible is that the funds our Nectar group raised are enough to fully cover the critical tests required for two children to participate in the Zero Childhood Cancer Personalised Medicine Program. That’s potentially two lives saved, with fewer harmful side effects, thanks to treatments tailored to their unique genome sequences. Sensational!
A special shout-out to our talented, persuasive, and hilarious auctioneer, Christine Ewin – founder of the highly successful real estate agency, My Agent Team. Christine kept the energy high, and the bids even higher.
The evening kicked off with a heartfelt and moving speech from Alex Darvell, a mother who shared her personal story of losing her son to cancer. Her words were a powerful reminder of why our support for CCIA is so vital. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
We had a fantastic range of items up for auction, from our usual ‘stitch-ups’ like personalised golf umbrellas, underpants, and golf balls, to luxurious weekend getaways – including a stay at the Gold Coast’s 5-Star Sofitel, where the event was held.
One of the evening’s highlights (or so I’m told) was the Regional Manager’s Pledge Event, led by Kristie Waite. It was our General Managers turn to be stitched up with the Regional Managers organising an impromptu ‘Raygun’-style break dance featuring the one and only Steve Harris, decked out in an Aussie green and gold tracksuit. While Olympic judges would’ve awarded him a perfect 0, the crowd gave it a 10/10 – and we are all proud to say his stylish moves helped raise a whopping $12,000 for CCIA.
The night was filled with laughter, generosity, and shared purpose. Knowing we raised such an incredible amount for a worthy cause made it all the more special.
Sally Carmichael from La Trobe Financial summed it up perfectly:
“I am still reeling from the auction; it was something I have never experienced before. The love in that room was phenomenal for a truly genuine cause. You all must have been stoked to have raised such a significant amount, which I am sure will go a long way to helping those beautiful children.”
A big thank you to the event’s amazing organisers: Justine McDonald, Lee Middleton, Kim Nicholls, and Deb Hanich. Your hard work truly paid off, and the night ran seamlessly because of you.