Allora ready for large community auction

The 36th Annual Allora Community Auction is on Monday at the Allora Showground.
Bookings are closed, with about 2500 lots expected for sale from 180 vendors who are coming from as far north as Rockhampton, west to Inglewood and south to northern NSW.
Earlier this year, the floods inundated the small township, population of about 920, also damaging a section of the Allora Showground, but the people of the district are such a strong supportive community that they banded together with the Allora Show Society and presented the Annual Agricultural Show in February and are now presenting the Annual Community Auction, reportedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The grounds and fences have been repaired and maintained by volunteers with assistance under the Queensland Government’s Sport and Recreation Flood Fightback Plan – Infrastructure Program and a grant from the Commonwealth Bank Community Group Flood Assistance Grants Program.
Since its beginning as a White Elephant Sale, organised by Apex members to raise funds for the Allora community, the auction has evolved into a sale of massive proportions.
In 2008 the few remaining Apexians handed the reins over to the Allora Show Society, guiding them all the way.
The profits are shared between the Show Society and all the organisations volunteering their services throughout the weekend. Last year 20 local organisations received funds.
About 200 volunteers assist over the three days. The showground is amassed with items for sale on Saturday and Sunday, ready for auction on Monday.
Twelve auctioneers, the eldest being Jim Leeson who will be 91 this year, share their time throughout the day, which begins at 8am sharp.
There will also be pony rides for the children.
About 1000 bidders try their luck to snare the bargains. The iconic local event has reached such a level of popularity that Channel Seven had a film crew from ‘The Great South East’ in attendance last year.