After 13 years at the helm of the annual Good Friday Appeal charity home auction, Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s Master Auctioneer Adrian Butera is handing over the hammer.
This year’s auction will be undertaken by REIV’s annual Senior Auctioneering Competition winner for 2020, Andy Reid.
Mr Reid will bring down the hammer on the Henley Vogue 34 home at Villawood Properties’ Rathdowne estate in the suburb of Wollert, in Melbourne’s outer north.
“It’s an absolute honour to be asked to do this year’s GFA auction,” Mr Reid told Elite Agent. “I have huge shoes to fill – Adrian is one of the best real estate auctioneers in the country and someone I have so much admiration for.”
The 2021 charity house auction marks 28 years of homes being donated, with more than $16 million raised for the Good Friday Appeal to date. Funds raised will be donated to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
Speaking about his long involvement with the auction, Mr Butera said it has been a privilege to help raise funds for hospital.
“I’m really proud of my involvement with the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Mr told Elite Agent.
“My three kids have attended the hospital for one reason or another.
“For me, there has been no greater honour than to be the auctioneer for the Children’s Hospital on Good Friday.
“The GFA house auction is the best of the best for charity auctions. I’m proud to have been a part of it, but now it’s the legacy that lives on with the REIV and the winner of the Senior Auctioneers competition.”
REIV Chief Executive Officer Gil King said it is a pleasure to work with Henley and Villawood to facilitate this year’s no-reserve auction.
“Some of the very best Victorian auctioneers have been discovered through REIV’s competition”, Mr King said.
“We’re thrilled to be able to put forward Victoria’s top talent to facilitate the Good Friday Appeal’s charity house auction each year.”
With the trend of hybrid auctions gaining popularity over the past year to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions, the auction will also be streamed live through Anywhere Auctions, allowing bidders from across the country to raise their paddle.
As a result, Mr King said he was expecting a record level of interest for the Good Friday auction this year.
“It’s set to be the biggest public auction since COVID-19 restricted crowd numbers across the state,” Mr King said.
“It’s a great opportunity for house hunters to secure a slice of the Melbourne property market with the knowledge that their purchase will support the Royal Children’s Hospital.”
Mr Reid said he would be going out “all guns blazing and put on a real show that’ll hopefully result in records being broken given the quality of the home and the pace of the current market”.
“The current record for the auction is $860,000, so I’m setting that as a minimum in my mind,” he said.
“I can’t guarantee where it will end up, but I can promise I’ll be giving it everything I have right up until the hammer falls.”
