These boots are made for…auctioning
June 2, 2014
The humble gumboot may not be a hot favourite on the catwalks of Milan and Paris, but it will certainly go a long way in raising much-needed funds for a local hospital landscaping project when dozens of gumboots are auctioned off at the Queensland Garden Expo on Saturday, 12 July.
Queensland Garden Expo Event Manager Marion Beazley said the 2014 Colin Campbell Gumboot Auction was this year’s rendition of an annual auction established in memory of much-loved gardening expert and media personality Colin ‘Col’ Campbell, who sadly passed away in 2012 following a battle with cancer.
“Those who remember Col will recall that one of his favourite expressions was ‘as tough as old boots,’ so we felt it was only fitting that we honour his memory with a community auction that incorporated plenty of gumboots,” Ms Beazley said.
“Last year we auctioned off Col’s gardening tools thanks to a generous donation from his wife Bev, and this year we thought we’d add in a new twist by getting Expo supporters to assist with decorating gumboots for auction.”
“A range of prominent local personalities including Paul Taylor and Hannah McEwan from WIN Television and Al and Nugget from Zinc 96.1 are currently putting their creative skills to the test, each decorating their very own gumboot to go under the hammer.”
“Auction winners might also get more than they bargained for, with some of the gumboots containing bonus prizes like gift vouchers and gardening products inside them.”
Ms Beazley said all funds raised by the auction would be donated to Maleny District Hospital to landscape an outdoor space where both visitors and patients can relax.
“As we all know, hospital stays and visits can be very stressful for patients as well as their families and friends, so we hope these funds will play a role in brightening the lives of those at the hospital,” Ms Beazley said.
“Gardens really do work wonders when it comes to relieving stress and improving your mood, so we couldn’t think of a better place than a local hospital to donate the funds.”
Bev Campbell said she was delighted to see her husband’s legacy living on through the annual auction.
“Col was incredibly passionate about gardening and the Queensland Garden Expo was one of his favourite events on the gardening calendar, having been involved in the event from the very beginning,” Mrs Campbell said.
“I’m sure he would have been thrilled to see more than $5,000 donated to community garden projects in his honour as a result of last year’s auction. Maleny District Hospital is an organisation very close to my heart and I am so pleased to see the funds being donated to them in 2014.”
Colin was best known for presenting ABC’s Gardening Australia program and 4BC’s Gardening talkback program, as well as his regular contribution to The Courier-Mail.
The 2014 Colin Campbell Gumboot Auction will be held on Saturday, 12 July as part of the Queensland Garden Expo program. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the three-day expo, which includes more than 360 exhibitors and offers a full program of free lectures and demonstrations across eight live stages.
To find out more, visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.
// Ends.
Media contact: Maya Gurry — Fresh PR & Marketing P: 0410 109 102 E: maya@freshprm.com.au
More details — Queensland Garden Expo
Where: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
When:
Friday, 11 July, 2014
Saturday, 12 July, 2014
Sunday, 13 July, 2014
Opening times:
Gates open 8:00am daily
Gates close 5:00pm Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm Sunday
Disability access:
The showground offers excellent facilities for wheelchair visitors with on-site disabled parking, easy access and ground level exhibits along with disabled toilet facilities. Guide dogs are welcome.
Tickets:
Adults $18
Aged concession card holders $16
Groups (10 or more) $16
Children (15 and under with accompanying adult) Free
Two-day entry pass (Saturday & Sunday) – Adults $30
Three-day entry pass $40
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