Recycle, raise money and reward yourself with a fabulous new piece of furniture while having a fun night out.
SeaFM’s The Power of Pallets auction and cocktail night ticks all the boxes for a great feel-good event, with funds raised going towards the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Organiser Kate Fern said this was the second year the event has been held and she was blown away by last year’s support. “Last year we had more than 40 items created – we had vanity units, guitars, cubby houses, letter boxes – it was just amazing how creative people are,” Ms Fern said.
About 140,000 tonnes of wood pallets and crates become landfill in Sydney alone every year. Around half the pallets produced to help transfer goods around Australia are intended to be used only once. Pallets that end up in Cairns are no exception.
“It is too expensive to ship back pallets after they have been used to transport goods to Cairns,” said Ms Fern. The event, believed to be the only one of its kind in Australia, is expected to be even bigger this year.
More than 150 people attended last year’s auction night and cocktail party, raising $17,000 for the Foundation in the process. Among the groups, businesses and individuals who participated last year included the Wooden Boat Association of Cairns, schools, businesses, and Blue Care Men’s Shed.
Ms Fern, a working mum, said she chose the Foundation because her family had benefited from using Cairns Hospital. “My son has epilepsy and the hospital has always been great to him and we all need the hospital at some stage in our life,” she said.
Foundation CEO Tony Franz said he loved the concept, and it was proven to be popular among participants and purchasers. “All over the world, people are recycling pallets, because they are such a wasted resource,” he said.
If you are interested in bidding for a unique pallet-pleasing piece of furniture or art at the auction on August 28, tickets are available for $39 per person at www.thepowerofpallets.org.au. (The price includes nibbles and entertainment.)
For further information, to donate or volunteer for the Foundation visit www.fnqhf.org.au.
