The Endeavour Foundation has raised a record $2,200 for the first bunch of chrysanthemums at their annual Mother’s Day flower auction held locally this week.
The successful bidders were local farmers Kym and John Walsh, who were thrilled to win the auction for the second year running.
“We paid a bit more this year for the flowers, but it was well worth it,” John said.
“Endeavour Foundation does a wonderful job, not just for Bundaberg and the district but throughout Queensland as well.”
Endeavour Foundation Executive General Manager for the Work Division Eric Teed said it was thanks to the generosity of the Walsh family that this year’s auction exceeded last year’s winning bid of $1,600.
“It’s amazing support from the Walsh family,” he said.
Kym’s 100-year-old grandmother was the lucky recipient of the beautiful bouquet.
The Walsh’s daughter Erin has worked at the Endeavour Foundation farm site for six years.
“The flowers are awesome,” she said.
This year marks 31 years of Endeavour Foundation’s Mother’s Day flower event.
Endeavour Foundation rely on a team of volunteers to help the make the Mother’s Day flower season a success.
With a bumper crop of over 70,000 blooms in 40 different colours, Endeavour Foundation this year can produce 7,000 bunches to sell for Mother’s Day.
The market for the Bundaberg-grown flowers stretches from Cairns to Brisbane.
Eric said Endeavour Foundation’s Bundaberg farm site represented the opportunity to provide rewarding and important work to people who might not otherwise get the opportunity.
“It’s about connection with the community,” he said.
“And producing really spectacular blooms for mum!”
