Geelong digs deep for Appeal

Henley Homes' Tindi Sorbera, auction winner's dad Colin Eade, auction winner's daughter Mia, auction winner's mum Sandy Eade, auction winner Maddison Luebker and Villawood Properties' Rory Costelloe. (supplied)

After a nail-biting 22-bid contest, Maddison Leubker from Point Cook emerged as the proud new owner of the Geelong Good Friday Appeal house.

The fully furnished and professionally landscaped Juno 442-D48 home, built by Henley, Mount Duneed home sold for a record $1,150,500.

Maddison said she and husband Rheace, parents to two-year-old Mia, had been looking around the Armstrong area for the past year but she was left almost speechless by her win in the tightly-contested auction.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“I think my husband’s in shock. He called me and asked ‘How are we going? I said ‘We just spent a whole lot of money.’”

The home had invaluable support from volunteer trades and suppliers, on land donated by Villawood Properties.

The couple’s new home is just 10 minutes from Maddison’s parents, Sandy and Colin Eade, in Torquay.

“It hasn’t settled in just yet but I’m very excited,” she said.

“The Charity House Auction supported by Henley Homes and Villawood Properties is one of the most important fundraising activities in the Good

Friday Appeal calendar,” GFA Appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan said.

Meanwhile Barwon Grove Golf Club, more affectionately known as The Tin Shed, in Barwon Heads raised more than $100,000 for the Appeal through auctions, raffles and a huge day at the club on Good Friday.

Geelong contributed $202,532 to the Appeal with Torquay piling in $70,958, Drysdale $42,073, Ocean Grove $34,227, Inverleigh $27,943, Point Lonsdale $21,042, Portarlington $15,917, Bannockburn $14,052 and Winchelsea $10,078.