Sydney, September 16: A box of 12 Australian mangoes received a record bid price of $40,000 at a fundraiser here.
The Age reported that Sydney Markets staged its 19th annual charity auction Wednesday to mark the official start of the mango season and raise money for the Westmead Children’s Hospital and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The season’s first tray of 12 Blush Packing House mangoes, grown in the Northern Territory, attracted four bidders.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed with that result,” auction spokeswoman Retina Hong was quoted as saying.
The winner, Mosman businessman Peter Quattroville, set a new record with his $40,000 bid, trumping the previous 2003 record of $37,000.
Quattroville’s generosity was spurred by a “good year” for his market and restaurant business, Fourth Village Providore, in Sydney’s north.
“I have been to the auction before, but this year I just decided to buy it and that was it,” he was qouted as saying.
“I have three beautiful children and wanted to give something back to the hospital … we are really thrilled.”
The money will be shared between the hospital’s institute of sports medicine and the prostate cancer foundation.
–Agencies