The annual charity auction at The National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo 2023 raised thousands for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
The National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo (DD&T) is Australia’s largest construction expo and draws huge crowds who come to learn about a range of industry vendors and events. The Pickles team eagerly awaits the show each year and hosts the crowning event of the weekend — a live charity auction.
The Clancy Ward
The highly anticipated auction brings industry insiders together to witness Pickles remarketing roughly 60 to 80 pieces of civil-construction and earthmoving assets, and kicks off with a select number of items auctioned off to raise funds for charity.
For the 2023 event, Pickles and Semco Equipment Sales teamed up, with Semco providing assets and Pickles hosting and providing auctioneering services. All funds raised were for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, specifically for improvements to the Clancy Ward, a department that cares for children with a range of health issues, including liver and kidney problems, diabetes, blood disorders, and those awaiting organ transplants. The ward goes above and beyond to care for sick Aussie kids in their time of need and relies on charitable donations to support the excellent care and treatment the kids there receive.
The event sale drew a large crowd, thanks to both the cause and the great range of assets on offer. The brand-new items donated by Semco included a Toro riding lawn mower valued at $4500, a Toro push mower valued at $2000, a $2500 Honda generator and a $2500 Dynavac compaction plate. The assets were on display at the front of the Pickles exhibit, drawing in hundreds of passers-by throughout the day.
Charity auctions are usually highly regarded events, with plenty of enthusiasm from all those involved. Pickles’ industry-leading team of auctioneers and specialists is always eager to contribute to such important events, and to drive that enthusiasm to even greater heights with auction theatrics. DD&T 2023 turned out to be a spectacular event, with an animated crowd in attendance to watch as all four assets were sold – three to in-person bidders and one via an online bid.
The event resulted in thousands of dollars in donations, all of which will be provided directly to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. While the funds raised are the most important goal of the event, it also serves to promote the recipients.
“Pickles is extremely pleased to be involved with raising funds for this wonderful facility, whose staff perform an amazing and valuable community health service,” said NSW State Sales Manager, Matt Blanch.
While the charity auction served as a key event, the three-day expo was jam-packed with an array of other highlights. A large display area was manned by Pickles sales executives, and new, refreshed, Powered by Pickles marketing materials on show kept the weekend both busy and inspiring.
Crowds filtered through for the duration of the expo, with guests keen for the opportunity to explore without any restrictions. The atmosphere was lively, and a sense of renewal and reconnection was in the air. While there were many familiar and long-time supporters at the event, there was also a large number of young families in attendance which created a cheerful mood among the crowds. The Pickles stand in particular drew in the younger crowd, who were keen to get their hands on a range of Pickles merchandise, including hats, foam footballs and stubby coolers for mums and dads. Some of those who picked up footballs played impromptu football games on the grass surrounding the display, adding to the festive feel.
Alongside interest for the charity event, there was great interest in a few large pieces of construction machinery. The most popular Pickles assets during the event were:
* A 2019 Volvo L150H wheel loader which made $172,500
* A 2018 IMS PM1050 Pugmill which made $285,000, and
* A 1999 Caterpillar 933 track loader which made $45,000.
DD&T 2023 was an extremely successful occasion, with many repeat attendees noting how the event had gone from strength to strength over the last few years. An impressive amount of quality exhibitors, high attendee numbers, and successful networking opportunities all contributed to the huge success of the event. Pickles’ executives were especially impressed with the networking events held by DD&T, citing them as unbeatable opportunities for industry insiders to share knowledge and forge powerful connections with other operators.
26 May