The importance of volunteer auctioneering, charitable giving and community fundraising
As an Australian business with a rich, 60+ year history, Pickles has long known the value of charitable giving. More than knowing the merit of giving back, Pickles understands the immense responsibility that large businesses have to positively contribute to communities. That’s why Pickles invests each year in a range of organisations, both big and grassroots, with funds, sponsorships and plenty of free auctioning services. In a year like 2024, where the average giver has reduced charitable giving, it is up to leaders like Pickles to spread plentifully to those who need it most.
In recent months, charities are noting up to 80% of givers cutting their donations compared to previous years, leaving those fighting the good fight to do so under-resourced. As cost-of-living pressures have steadily increased in 2024, it is often non-necessity spending that is stopped first, like that of charity donation. Unfortunate as this may be, therein lies an opportunity for Australian businesses to play a pivotal role in the economy and community. Beyond commercial activities, big businesses have a social responsibility to uplift the communities around them with philanthropic efforts. This responsibility cannot be overstated and it is something Pickles actively encourages from other companies through networking and joint endeavours.
Charity is a cornerstone of Pickles and a theme that is present in the everyday operations and planning of the business. It’s an undercurrent that is felt through every department and by Pickles huge national staff of 850+ people, many of whom participate in workplace giving or their own fundraising which is supported by colleagues. Fostering a community of givers is a source of Pickles pride and is something the business encourages by leading by example. This is done in a range of ways including giving funds, donating valuables, sponsorships, hosting fundraisers, offering free auctioneering to charity auctions and many other ways. These initiatives are spread far and wide across Australian organisations, with Pickles supporting well-known initiatives like the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Variety Adventure Ride, School for Life and Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, and with grassroots giving for local sporting teams. Doing this work is part of Pickles’ social responsibility, says Pickles National Sales Manager, Trucks & Machinery, James Chauncy.
‘Giving back is extremely important to us, we feel that supporting charitable initiatives is not just an opportunity we have, but a responsibility. Pickles has been operating for 60 years and we’re proud of our country and want to support the communities in it in every possible way.’
James Chauncy has worked at Pickles for 18 years and during this time, he’s used his hard-earned auctioneering skills to lend a practical hand to charities during fundraisers. One such event is held each year by School for Life, a not-for-profit organisation that provides rural Ugandan communities with quality education, employment and healthcare. During School for Life’s annual fundraising event, James volunteers to take centre stage to auction off millions of dollars worth of items. It’s not uncommon for James to spend his time volunteering his auction services at events, which has become an excellent opportunity for him to network and meet like-minded people from other industry bodies. It is when industry organisations come together with the common goal of doing good, that true progress takes place.
Such is the case with VE Group, a Queensland-based earthmoving, quarry supplies and logistics company run by equally enthusiastic philanthropists. Nathan and Bronwen Howell from VE Group realised the value of working together with other industrial businesses herself, after her close friends needed the help of an Australian charity in 2021. The organisation that answered their call for help, Childhood Cancer Support (CCS), is one of Australia’s longest running charities, providing short and long-term accommodation to rural families whose lives have been impacted by their children undergoing cancer treatment. When Bronwen saw first-hand the value of the charity, she decided to put the call out using a personal letter to her wide network of transport and civil insiders to fundraise. Bronwen says, putting the call out put things in motion that had a huge roll-on effect on the funds raised for CCS.
‘I kept thinking, there’s got to be something we can do and so I reached out to everyone I knew in the industry. Australia’s transport and civil industries are really such giving sectors, so we were able to attract lots of people to lunch to support a great initiative. Our first year saw 110 people.The next year we more than doubled our numbers. For our 2024 event, we sold out in under a month with 320 tickets sold. To date, we’ve managed to raise over half a million dollars for CCS using fundraisers and other events.’
VE Group’s Charity Long Lunch has become a very successful annual event, attended by hundreds of industrial insiders. It’s one that Pickles is proud to have a presence at, by way of James Chauncy’s services that auction off goods to raise funds for CCS. The lunch is an event that has had a roll on effect throughout the industry, with Bronwen seeing other business operators become inspired to lead fundraising events. The rallying of help from big businesses cannot be overstated, said Childhood Cancer Support Specialist, Pat Hopper.
‘Having businesses get involved created growing awareness in the sector. Now that businesses know who we are, we’re seeing lots of organisations host fundraisers and designate CCS as the charity recipient of the funds. It’s had a huge knock-on effect.’
For more information on Pickles initiatives, head to our Community Service page. To donate to Childhood Cancer Support, visit their website.
26 Sep