Holden memorabilia auction raises $28,500 for Albany Community Hospice

An auction of Holden memorabilia by an Albany car dealer has raised $28,500 for Albany Community Hospice.

On Sunday morning, about 40 Holden fans made their way to the Albany City Motors showroom to bid on Holden collectibles that ACM could no longer display.

With the iconic Holden brand being retired in 2020, ACM decided to auction off the brand’s promotional items, some of which were almost 50 years old.

Holden signs, flags and other collectibles were up for grabs with all proceeds going to the Albany Community Hospice.

ACH fundraising committee chairwoman Jeanann Barbour said she expected Sunday’s wet weather to turn Holden fans away.

She said she was “gobsmacked” by the turnout.

“The bidding started, it lasted a little while and then the manager John (Cannon) came over to me and whispered in my ear, he said ‘I think we’re going to get to $10,000’,” Ms Barbour said.

“And I was just over the moon I thought ‘wow, we’re going to get $10,000’.

“Then the bidding went on and on, and at 10.30am the auction finished and they had made $28,500 for the hospice.”

Ms Barbour said the fundraiser was a much-needed boost for the community-run hospice.

“We need about $200,000 each year to keep the hospice running, so it really adds to our fundraising total which is just amazing,” she said.