Clearing Sale - 15th November 2008

OTHR held its first Clearing Sale at Oberon Showground on Sat 15th November. The day was a big success and it looks being an annual fund-raising event. The event was organised by OTHR with the generous assistance of Oberon Council which donated $2,000 towards advertising costs. Farm machinery, goods from small businesses and households from all over the Central Tablelands was auctioned on the day. See below for full report. (Photos © Gavin Rea with thanks)

Sale Success! (a report by Chris Stott)

The first Annual Central Tablelands Clearing Sale was a big success for both sellers and buyers. More than 400 people turned up at Oberon Showground on Sunday to bid on the 1,000+ items that were sold.

99% of what was offered by the Auctioneer was sold under the hammer. Many of the buyers came from Lithgow and Bathurst and beyond, bringing more dollars into our community. Some from further afield, including Wollongong, Tamworth and Canberra, stayed in Oberon overnight, bringing more business to our town.

Event Coordinator, Tim Arnison said “For our first attempt at this type of event we were very happy with the results. Everyone was a winner – the sellers of goods, who got to move all those unwanted items, the buyers who got useful things at a great price, and the town, with an influx of visitors over the weekend. And, of course, the Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway project that benefits from receiving 100% of the commission income generated.”

The OTHR Fund Raising member, who conceived the idea for this event, Chris Stott, added “The reason that the event was so successful was the time and effort of the dedicated volunteers who covered all the organising and facilitation duties. Starting with Tim Arnison who put in many hours as event coordinator and extending to all the helpers who did registrations, money collection and settlement, gate control and security. Also, Patrick Bird, of Ray White Oberon, who organised his staff to assist and run the actual auction, supported by 2 other local auctioneers, all in a voluntary capacity.”

People interviewed on the day reported that they were very impressed by the whole event. Many that came to bid on items also said that they would be back next year with “heaps of stuff to sell”. As the word spreads the event will gain the attention of sellers and buyers from a broader area and has the potential to become one of the bigger annual events of the region.

The OTHR Committee plans to approach Oberon Council with a view to having a permanent sign erected at the Bathurst side town entry point, promoting the fact that the “Annual Central Tablelands Clearing Sale” is to be held on the second weekend in November, each year.