Premier names on invite list

By Dion Teasdale
PRIME Minister John Howard and Premier Steve Bracks are some of the big name guest being invited to the Warburton Millgrove Sports/Football Club Auction later this year.
This year’s auction, to be held at the end of November, will mark the 25th anniversary of the community based fundraising event.
Auction organising committee member Rob Morter said the committee was already planning a number of special celebrations for the event.
“We thought we’d aim high and invite our political leaders and other high profile personalities to come and celebrate the anniversary,” Mr Morter said.
“We might not get Mr Howard or Mr Bracks, but there’s no harm in trying to get them here to be part of this milestone.”
Mr Morter said planning for the event came as the organising committee was putting together the wash-up statement for last year’s auction, held on Sunday, 27 November on the Mac Sparke Oval at the Warburton Recreation Reserve.
“The auction last year was a success with about 3,500 items auctioned and just under 500 bidders attending,” he said.
“All up the event looks like it has made a profit of about $5,500, which will be used to pay off the new verandah at the club.”
A highlight of the auction last year was a number of special presentations made to community members, Mr Morter said.
“Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Monika Keane and the shire’s director of social and economic development, Alison Cran, made the presentations,” he said.
“They gave out more than a dozen certificates of recognition to community members who have made invaluable contributions to the auction and the sports club over recent years.”