It was a golden result for this year’s Telethon with the annual charity event surging to a $62 million record fundraiser – and once again the gold industry helped provide some sparkle.
Gold Fields again donated a 99.9% pure one-kilogram gold bar for auction at the Telethon Ball held on 16 October, and the precious donation prompted vigorous bidding. Valued at approximately $80,000 the bar was eventually auctioned off for $135,000.
Gold Fields Executive Vice President for Australia Stuart Mathews said the result was even more special as he along with his colleague Gold Industry Group Chairperson Kelly Carter had the chance just days earlier to meet this year’s Telethon Little Stars Lucy Antipas and Ollie Kim at an event with Premier Mark McGowan.
The get together was held at Telethon beneficiary Healthy Strides, which provides intensive therapy and rehabilitation services to children including Little Star Lucy.
“The last 18 months has been a challenging time for our business, but we have managed to perform strongly and again wanted to help Telethon,“ said Mr Mathews.
“It’s the third year we’ve been involved in donating a gold bar and when you see the kids like Lucy and Ollie, and organisations like Healthy Strides it really makes it even more worthwhile.”
Throughout previous years Gold Fields have generously donated three one-of-a-kind gold bullion bars for auction with a combined value of an estimated $394,000. Other generous donors from the gold industry have included Northern Star Resources with a gold bar donation worth $72,000 and Gold Road Resources who partnered with Gold Fields to provide last year’s $85,000 gold bar.