It’s not often that you can say that a fundraiser was five times more successful than anticipated, but that’s exactly what happened for the Goulburn Swans during their Pink Day on Saturday.
Funds in excess
Pretty in pink: Swans president Dane Stevenson with Tamara Rojas at the Astor on Saturday. Photo: Zac Lowe.
(From left) Michael and Dayle Chapman with Carmel and Gavin Halder.
(From left) Nick Abernathy, Sam Buchanan, Cameron Mawson, and Nick Buchanan.
The fabled Adelaide Crows jersey which bore Tex Walker's signature ended up fetching over $600.
Dane Stevenson stands with one of the Swans' jerseys which was worn on the day and sold at auction.
(From left) Laura Nell, Brad Armstrong, and James Armstrong.
Scotty Fleming up on stage with Swans coach Matt Lee.
(From left) Brad Armstrong with Swans coach Matt Lee.
(Left to right) Hamish Copland with Swans coach Matt Lee.
(From left) Scotty Fleming receives a certificate from Dane Stevenson to commemorate his hundredth game for the Swans.
Jessica Browne and Will Neate.
(Left to right) David Nell, James Kent, and Luke Redden.
Following a tough loss against the Southern Cats in the afternoon, the Swans took to the Astor from 6:00pm to enjoy some food, drinks, and auctions.
Although it was initially expected that the evening would bring in around $1,000, club president Dane Stevenson confirmed recently that the actual amount raised was over $5,000.
“We got really, really good numbers, we had a lot of members of the community and some sponsors come along,” Stevenson said.
“The boys and our guests dug deep.”
The evening began with the guests milling, watching the AFL, and buying raffle tickets, before Stevenson officially got the fundraiser underway.
The first fundraising event was the auction of the pink jerseys which the players had worn that day. While the starting bid for the jumpers was $30, many went in excess of $200, with one even clearing $350.
Some of the raffles were drawn, and then it came time for the main event: the auction of an Adelaide Crows jersey signed by Tex Walker.
“It was a very hotly contested article of memorabilia,” Stevenson said.
“We’ve got a few die-hard Crows fans in the team, and some of our supporters as well, so there was some pretty hefty bidding going on.”
All funds raised will go to the National Breast Cancer Association, in an attempt to help some of the estimated 18,000 women who will be diagnosed with the disease this year.
“It’s such a horrible disease for people to deal with and to try and cope with and/or live with,” Stevenson said.
“Anything that we can do that raises awareness for it and supports the foundation in getting treatment and research and raises money to help pay for breastcare nurses, that’s the least we can do.”
Stevenson continued to thank the club, its sponsors, and the Goulburn locals who turned out in force to show their support for a good cause.
“We’re very lucky in such a strong, sporting-based community like Goulburn.”