Southern DC-3 Trust Charity Auction

Last month, the Southern DC-3 Trust held a charity fund-raising auction dinner at the Air Force Museum at Wigram in Christchurch. The main exhibition hall of the museum was a uniquely appropriate setting for the event, complete with its own restored RNZAF DC-3 as a backdrop.

ZK-AMY, the DC-3 operated by the Southern DC-3 Trust has been donated to the Ashburton Aviation Museum but the Trust will continue to operate it in flying condition. The charity auction dinner was to assist in maintaining and preserving the aircraft.

The presence of the Trust’s patron, Richie McCaw, was a major drawcard for many of the guests who attended the packed event. Tickets for the dinner ranged in price from $150 per person at most of the tables, to $500 per person at Richie McCaw’s table.

Guests at the dinner were able to bid for a huge number of items ranging from things like family passes for local attractions to overseas flights to Vancouver and Seattle. In addition to 20 major auctions for individual prizes, there was a “balloon auction” in which guest purchased balloons for various amounts (from $100 to $500) in order to enter for “lucky draw” prizes.

In addition to the Vancouver/Seattle trip, some of the major prizes included a flight in a P-51 Mustang, two electric guitars—one signed by Keith Richards, another by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr—a cycling jersey signed by Lance Armstrong, a golf glove signed by Tiger Woods, a photocopier, and an original painting of Richie McCaw alongside ZK-AMY.

The black tie event was a unique opportunity for all of New Zealand’s DC-3 fans, friends and personalities to get together in one place. Peter Vincent, of Wellington’s Vincent Aviation (which operated ZK-AMY from Wellington for several years) booked two tables and flew a group of guests from Wellington to Christchurch to attend. Geoff and Jessica Cooper, stalwarts of the Warbird Dakota Syndicate, made the trip from Auckland to show their support for the Southern DC-3 Trust. Geoff Cooper spoke warmly of the camaraderie shared by all DC-3 aficionados and praised the strong level of support shown by Cantabrians for this historic aircraft.

Only one or two of the auction prizes failed to reach their reserves, while others achieved higher than expected bids. Impromptu “auctions” cropped up during the evening as various other items were auctioned. For example, when it came time to bid for a Canterbury rugby jersey, Richie McCaw good-naturedly acceded to demands by the large contingent of female guests (for an additional $600 bid for the benefit of the Trust, of course), to remove his dinner jacket and shirt on stage in order to try on the rugby jersey.

McCaw’s patience and good will throughout the evening, and his roving presence at several tables during the bidding were rewarded by substantial increases in a number of other bids.

The evening was a major success for the Trust, which raised over $100,000 that will be devoted to preserving its historic airliner and ensuring it continues flying in New Zealand.