ON THE WALLABY- 18th June 2007

“I swore to myself that I would never again take another human being and their friendship for granted ever again” – Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa and truly a man amongst men

TWO CHARITY AUCTIONS RE-ENFORCE IN ME AGAIN HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO BE AUSTRALIANS

As my readers realise, I am an unabashed Johnny Cash fan and when reading his autobiography , ”Cash”, I read with much interest, and understanding, of his mothers view that his magnificent voice was simply a “gift from God” and that he had it on loan and had to help others wherever possible, a task he took to throughout his life in both song and deed.

I also see my auctioneering ability as a similar gift and therefore I am a willing participant throughout the year acting as auctioneer at various charity functions, both great and small. Over recent times, due to the greed of both memorabilia suppliers and the naivety of those running the functions, I have reduced those numbers to avoid heartbreak in the latter group when they are forced to conduct the auction with a reserve list an arm lengths long.

However, this weekend passed, I had two most moving functions at which I auctioned.

The first, at the Sydney Hilton Hotel, was on behalf of the Life Changing Experiences Foundation.

This wonderful body of women, founded by Jessica Brown just three years ago, has rocketed to public prominence with their Sister2Sister charity work whereby women (known as Big Sisters) who have been successful in life, take under their wing as mentors, girls who have been abused sexually, physically and in general, had a literal belting from life.

Before an audience of 485 attendees, Jessica spoke a little (and very unassumingly) of her work and that of the Foundation. She was then followed by Sarah Wilson, a former “Big Sister” and Editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine who spoke very movingly of her experience with her “Little Sister” and spoke from the heart about just what changes had come about in both of them.

Then up to the microphone stepped “Grace”, a young lady, mature beyond her years, who alluded to her past (we all assumed that it would have been horrendous) and of her dream to be a journalist and how, through the Sister2Sister program, was well on her way to achieving that goal and putting her past behind her.

Speaking to some of those there who were “in the know” about many of the young girls who come to them, I was forced to think that were they in probably any other country on earth (and I will talk about that in the next segment below), they would have been very much “you’re on your own kiddo” and eventually become part of the detritus of life!

Those who become “Big Sisters” are literally hand matched by Jessica and her selection panel and from what Sarah said, that has been a most fortuitous move as both parties are given the maximum opportunity to make a go of the relation ship.

The auction went off really well and valuable funds were created for the Life Changing Experiences Foundation. If you would like to know more of their workings or, indeed, become involved, simply click on this hyperlink Sister2Sister Program and it will take you to their website.

Following some on site auctions at Morisset on Sunday, I high tailed it back to Sydney where Sam and I attended the celebration of Nelson Mandela’s birthday and acted as auctioneer for the maAfrika Tikkun organization.

MaAfrika Tikkun is an organization, born like Life Changing Experiences, on the dream of one man and having others follow.

The “man” in this case was Bertie Lubner who ,appalled at the suffering of the black people of South Africa, garnered some of his Jewish friends and launched the organization, very much on a “wing and a prayer”.

Such has been the success and effect of maAfrika Tikkun that Mr Madela, when he had visited not only the offices of maAfrika Tikkun in Capetown and Johannesburg, but also their project work in South Africa, he wanted to be involved and thus became the Chief Patron.

Richard Lubner, who with Kim Lubner “runs” the Australian wing of maAfrika Tikkun, owns the Touch Galleries situated in The Rocks area of the Sydney CBD, spoke about the work done in Africa and he was followed by one of the most charismatic women I have ever heard in Bessie Netsianda.

She spoke, as a true orator doers, straight from the heart, about just what conditions are like in the squalor of so much of the South African settlements.

One example she gave was of a woman who had raised three children in a one room corrugated iron shack and she at last had the R100 (one hundred rand) to enable her to have a hot meal for her and her children.

I leant over to Marius, a South African expat who was opposite me at our table and asked him how much a Rand was in Australian currency.

Fifteen cents!

So for the princely sum of $1.50, the cost of half a cappuccino here, she was able to have a warm meal.

She also made the point that South Africa was seen by other African nations as “The America” of Africa and consequently, a financially hard pressed government is under swiftly increasing population pressures as well.

Add to that the number of “child headed families” (God, how we humans sanitise suffering through politically correct language!) – African-speak for families of children with no parents and where the bread winner is often under 10! And my heart sank with the picture she verbally painted.

Following on as she did after the legendary author Bryce Courtenay (and on who’s life story, his book, The Power of One, was written, if ever two speakers had potential bidders hearts pumping, it was these two.

Mr Courtenay spoke with passion and more passion about his own upbringing and the blight of AIDS that is decimating Africa. That his son, at age 33, had succumbed to AIDS contracted via an infected blood transfusion whilst in America made his address all the more powerful.

He spoke of the reticence of all governments, and many in Europe as well, to accept the numbers infected across Africa by this deadly virus and of the consequences of in action.

His point, even though much of the audience was made up of ex-pat South Africans, was that whether we like it or not, as the human race, Africa is indeed a time bomb ticking and we ignore it at our peril.

The auction was able to raise nearly $60,000 or in maAfrika Tikkun terms, enough funds for 400,000 hot meals!

The evening also launched the Mandela Angels Program whereby people are sought to become sponsors of African children, in essence, an Aussie Mandela Angel, and through this sponsorship, make a real difference to many people. All donations are tax deductible.

If you would like more information, visit the website through the hyperlink above or contact Kim Hubner at kim@maafrikatikkun.com.au

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Professional Speaker, auctioneer and author

tony@fountainandco.com

Sydney NSW Australia

If you would like to subscribe a friend or colleague to these free “On the Wallaby” email bulletins, click here and place their email address in the subscription box .