All 5 of the Rotary Clubs on the Coast Selling Christmas trees had sold out by just after 10.00 am on Sun 8th December. Our club, The Entrance, sold the largest number of trees, selling around 470 trees (60 more than last year) out of a Central Coast total of 1750 trees. It looks like we should have achieved record profits.
It was a full club effort with all members helping with the unloading and loading at Ranbuilt on the Thursday and Friday evenings or the selling of the trees on Saturday 30th November, Sun 1st December, Sat 8th and Sun 9th December.
We were extremely grateful for the help we received from friends of the Club and volunteers. An especial thanks to Brett Keenan (Central Coast Kids in Need) and his friend Cas who help with the unloading and loading on both Thursday evenings and on the Friday evening when he helped the other clubs. He also then fronted up to help sell early on the Saturdays. Michael Domladovac and his daughter Mila (12) also helped with the loading and unloading both weekends and helped sell on the Saturdays. Caroline Denmark did an excellent job on both Saturdays grading and putting ribbons on the trees and played a big part in our club having the highest average selling price $9 per tree above the next club, Woy Woy. Todd Maloney also help both Saturdays and John and Elaine Hennessey (Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre) helped sell on the first busiest Saturday, Rob Denmark helped unload and load trees on the second Friday and to sell on the second Saturday. If I have forgotten anyone I’m sorry but thank you anyway.
A brief note to those of you who were customers , especially past customers returning for the second , third or fourth year . You seem to be happy with the quality of the trees, the way they are laid out and the overall experience of buying a tree from us and helping us raise funds for the many, mostly local charities we support. As most of you are now aware 50% of the profits on the sale of trees at all six sites goes to “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” which runs under the umbrella of the Department of Family Services.
The other 50% is left with each of the Rotary Clubs selling and in our case will go towards the local community organisations and charities that we support, such as C.C Kids in Need , the 3 local neighbourhood Centres, HoTS (Health on the Streets), Shoebox Revolution, Yarran, The Samaritans and Challenge Fostercare.
There were a lot of tired helpers by the second Sunday in December but after a shower, a cold drink and a good sleep most of us recovered well and will be happy to go again next year, but glad its not for another 11 months!