Luke Quintano Fundraiser at Town Green Inn

Excellent adventure bags $8000 for Luke

LUKE Quintano’s smile was a sure sign he enjoyed the fundraising benefit held in his honour at the Town Green Inn on Saturday.

More than $8000 was raised through an auction of sports memorabilia, raffles and generous guests.

A surfboard donated by Port Macquarie-based professional surfer Mick Campbell and signed by nine-time world champion Kelly Slater and other surfing luminaries, was a prize Scott Doulis was willing to part with $1000 for.

Former rugby league star Peter Tunks was a special guest and with Sid Barnes, auctioneer for the event, kept the attendees entertained and raising their hands in the bidding war. One of the surprise bids of the night was $190 for the Bundy Bear cut out.

Glen Stewart, Town Green Inn licensee, and his staff were very supportive - in fact chef Adam Lovitt, who bought $100 in raffle tickets, won the $2000 megaprize. His winnings included an 81cm VIVO TV from Dick Smith Electronics and a state-of-the-art Samsung touchscreen phone from the Telstra Shop.

Organiser Noelyn Tunstall of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie on Hastings, said many of Port Macquarie’s businesses were very generous with their raffle prize donations. “The people of Telegraph Point and the tavern also really got behind the benefit,” Mrs Tunstall said.

“The effort was worthwhile, as when I asked Luke if he had anything to say about the evening, he said ‘excellent’.”

Article printed in the Port Macquarie News, Monday October 19, 2009