Sydney Airport’s 2016 lost property auction has raised over A$200,000 (US$149,000) for charity, with the funds to be distributed to Conservation Volunteers Australia, The Clontarf Foundation, The Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation and Lifeline Australia.
“We’re thrilled to have raised over A$200,000 (US$149,000) to be shared among four worthy charities focusing on the environment, health, education and families in need,” said Kerrie Mather, Sydney Airport’s managing director and chief executive officer. “Our lost property auction is always incredibly popular with the public and this year was no different.”
The four charity recipients thanked Sydney Airport for the opportunity to be part of the auction and said the funds raised would go toward a range of important initiatives. Conservation Volunteers Australia CEO Colin Jackson said, “Money raised from this event will support rehabilitating and restoring coastal areas along La Perouse, part of Kamay Botany Bay National Park. With dunes being vital in protecting the coastline, the focus of this restoration project is to re-establish the dunes’ native vegetation, providing a suitable habitat to many species and improving the health of the dunes. This contribution will allow us to dedicate teams of local volunteers to carry out this critical hands-on conservation work.”
Lifeline Australia CEO Pete Shmigel added, “The Sydney Airport lost property auction is making an important contribution to establishing Australia’s first text-based crisis service. The charity auction funds are helping us tackle Australia’s suicide emergency by ensuring help is available, simply and accessibly, across modern communication.”
The lost property auction ran online during October 2016, with around 5,000 unclaimed items sold across categories including electronics, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing and accessories. The auction also featured unique items such as a remote-control helicopter, drill, violin, microwave, telescope and mountain bike.
Items left at the airport are logged into a system and stored at the airport for two months to give owners the opportunity to claim their goods. Where items are clearly labelled, Sydney Airport endeavors to reunite them with their owners. For items that remain unclaimed, Sydney Airport holds a lost property auction every 12 months, with all proceeds going to charity.