I’m convinced the short 15 minute presentation made us all feel more committed to the project. In fact, on hearing of Bryce’s loss last week of his favourite $15,000 thermal drone, through a technical failure, inspired Jim to most generously donate that amount for a replacement. Literally, as I type this my phone has just beeped to say $15,000 has just gone into our donation account!
Here is a short one minute video, with snippets from the night,  made by Michael Jepson of Inception Video, definitely worth a click, thanks Michael

There are a number of very important thank yous to be made.  Firstly, to our terrific special guest, David, one of the world’s finest batsmen in the late 70s and through the 80s, and a respected member of the media ever since, entertained us in a truly professional manner, adding a touch of class to the proceedings. It’s such an honour for David to have been our patron for the 33 years. 
David was sponsored by our longest serving supporter, Travel Directors and Nia Carras. They offer an enormous range of small group tours to all corners of the world, as well as the usual full travel agency services.

We’d like to thank our three main purchasers on the night, Ann, Kevin and Mark, and I’m certain their African safaris and cricket memorabilia will give them many happy memories in the years to come. And a big thank you to The Victoria Falls Hotel, The Hide, Jackalberry’s camp, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Daka Plains and Cresta Mowana, for donating all the bednights to make our safaris available. Acacia Africa, in conjunction with Travel Directors, also donated two 7 days trips, bringing in $5,000 for the rhinos.

For the last 20 years, Doris Brinkhaus has been kindly donating pieces from her wonderful range of exquisite jewellery from her shop in Claremont.  This year she was even more generous than usual, gifting us six lovely pieces, with strong bidding raising more than $7,000 – thanks so much Doris, wonderful effort.

We’d like to thank our three main purchasers on the night, Ann, Kevin and Mark, and I’m certain their African safaris and cricket memorabilia will give them many happy memories in the years to come. And a big thank you to The Victoria Falls Hotel, The Hide, Jackalberry’s camp, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Daka Plains and Cresta Mowana, for donating all the bednights to make our safaris available. Acacia Africa, in conjunction with Travel Directors, also donated two 7 days trips, bringing in $5,000 for the rhinos.

Our wine sponsors for the night were again Greenpiper Wines, with their recently awarded Gold Medal from the Melbourne Show for their Butler Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Cape Domaine Malbec 2024, Vintners Edge Of The Wave Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and Butler Crest Chardonnay 2024. They must have been good as they were all finished.  You can buy some more if you like, on this link below.
Thank you very much indeed, Andy and Hayley, for your ongoing sponsorship of your quality wines for our rhinos!

https://www.greenpiper.com.au/pages/save-the-rhino-foundation

We had a few different beers on offer, Gage Roads Single Finn, Peroni and Crown Lager, kindly donated by Nia Carras, thanks  Nia.

The Litis family most generously donated four days for four guests at the luxurious Injidup Spa Retreat in Yallingup, and after keen bidding by two guests, a second holiday was offered to the underbidder, which was gratefully accepted. Thanks Jim and Evan.

Special mention must also go to those who helped on the night, especially Evelyn, Heather, Kristin, Maree and Nia, plus Cameron, Evan, Ian, Linton, Martin, Michael, Nicholas and Tim.  Thanks everyone, great job!

You are receiving this email because you filled in your details on the Lucky Draw pink slips – there were ten prizes on offer, the main ones being from Kitsch Bar and Siena’s, thanks Nick and Andrew.

And now for what you’ve been waiting for, the final proceeds from our great evening.  The main auction produced $73, 210, the silent one was $5,275, there were donations of $15,815, the profits from the ticket sales were $7,500 and new memberships/T shirts (welcome) amounted to $1,900, for a terrific final figure of $103,700, how absolutely fantastic!!

We have a few signed photos, 11 x 8 inches, of David in his prime, available for just $30 each, if you’d like to buy a special memory from the evening – just email me and we’ll organise it, thanks.

Thanks, everyone, for being a part of this, and these funds will allow us to keep funding Bryce and his team.

Very best wishes to you all,
Nicholas.

History

Established in 1987, Save African Rhino Foundation is one of the world’s biggest NGO donors to Zimbabwe rhino conservation. We admit there have been highs (overcoming the 1980s/90s rhino wars and rebuilding rhino populations) and lows (the current rhino killing spree that started around 2006 and still continues unabated). 

We remain hopeful and we stay tenacious, as we know that rhinos can be brought back from the brink. As one top-ranking official in the National Parks of Zimbabwe said in 2004: “If it were not for the Save African Rhino Foundation, the black rhinoceros would be extinct in Zimbabwe by now.” All this has been achieved with grassroots support, a loyal membership base and the assistance of SARF’s patrons. 

We thank you all and confirm our ongoing commitment to play our part in stopping the current rhino poaching crisis and saving this amazing animal from extinction in the wild.  

We nominated him for a number of reasons, some of which are;

1. He was the co–founder of SARF in mid 1987, making it the world’s second oldest rhino dedicated conservation charity, and has been its pro bono President since 1989 and is the longest serving specialist rhino conservation fundraiser in the world.

2. Using his passion, initiative and drive, he has been instrumental in raising more than ten million dollars for our rhino projects, as well as donating over three million dollars from his own resources.

3. Amongst his fundraising initiatives were four international cricket matches with stars such as Gower, Border, Lillee, Chappell, Hughes, Proctor, Pollock, Kallicharan and Murray, more than 60 safaris with over 640 guests and 27 celebrity dinner/auctions for 7,800 guests.

4. Nicholas also attracted our great patrons, starting with the late Lord McAlpine, then David Gower, Nick Price, the late Bryce Courtenay, Kim Hughes and David Pocock.

5. In Africa and Australia he has built strong relationships with key people in the fields of rhino conservation, government and tourism making SARF a highly recognised NGO on the ground

6. Through his passion and dedication he has inspired many committee members in their voluntary positions over the lifetime of SARF to contribute to its functioning

7. As a result of all of the above, we are a major donor to Zimbabwe rhino conservation, where numbers have been steadily rising for the past ten years.

Congratulations, Nicholas, on all that you have inspired our team to achieve. Formerly a geography teacher in Sheffield from 1968-1971, Nicholas and a teaching colleague embarked on a hitch hiking/budget travelling world tour in late 1971, arriving in Perth two years later, via east and southern Africa and south Asia. He immediately established a direct sales business and was its MD for the next 27 years, retiring from paid employment in 2001, in order to concentrate more on the rhinos. He has been in London for the past 18 months, looking after his elderly mother, 98, 24/7 and we miss him in Perth.

To commemorate, celebrate and honour his award, we are inviting our supporters to consider making a donation for our cause, please. Jill Duncan; Nicholas’ mother’; has very kindly offered to match all your donations up to a limit of $20,000.

To pay by credit card, then please click here – http://www.givenow.com.au/savefoundationaustralia

Or please direct deposit into 066113, 10044343, with your name and ND.

Thank you and I’m sure you will join us in extending our congratulations to Nicholas

Nia Carras, Vice President