R Marine Experience trips typically have three things in common: the spirit of adventure, revelry and the joy of sharing. It comes as no surprise then that when given an opportunity to support a good cause, Riviera owners dig deep. This being said, the generosity exhibited at a charity auction on a recent R Marine Crawley Whitsundays Experience overwhelmed even its owner Ben Crawley.
“It was sensational,” says Ben. “Some Riviera owners were bidding $1,500 to $2,000 on an $80 bottle of spirits.”
Crystal blue tropical waters and a white sandy beach – the perfect setting for Riviera owners to give generously for a good cause.
Held on Whitehaven Beach, people were asked to donate an auction item to the value of $50. There were inflatable Eskies, marine books, bottle openers and an array of gadgets auctioned off, with the proceeds bound for Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland (RMHC SEQ), which provides accommodation and support services for families of seriously ill or injured children who are being treated in hospital.
“All the owners were involved and whether it was $200 or $2,000, there was not one person who kept their hand in their pockets; it was really positive to see everyone use their good fortune to help others. Everyone understands that they’re giving back to a good cause; they’re helping people in a less fortunate position who are going through a very difficult time. The result was fantastic, as we raised $29,000.”
For Sue and Mark Lawry on their Riviera 445 SUV, Impala, the auction and the beneficiary were of personal significance. “It was the most beautiful day,” says Sue. “The weather hadn’t been the greatest on the trip up, so we took full advantage of the glorious day. We had a barbecue and played games on the beach and then Ben started the auction; it was Ben’s rules and he’s quite a character when he gets going, so it was really a lot of fun.”
“When he explained where the funds were going it really hit home because we had been down this road before. When we first moved to Australia [from South Africa] one of our daughters became really ill and we had to live in Brisbane. Ben had no idea; it only came up at the auction, and it started to bring back old memories. But it was great; Mark and I said, let’s go for it! If we could put in a few dollars to help a family, gosh, why not? I don’t know what we ended up paying for the blow-up Esky, but we now refer to it as the ‘golden Esky’!”
It was really positive to see everyone use their good fortune to help others.
Ben Crawley
Every year R Marine Crawley raises between $50,000 and $80,000 for charity. Various organisations benefit, including the Leukaemia Foundation and GIVIT. The Riviera representative’s longstanding support of the RMHC includes hosting a McDonald’s licensee getaway at Whitehaven Beach as part of the licensees’ annual conference. Ben invited Mark and Sue to attend this year’s getaway where they presented the $29,000 cheque.
“It was absolutely amazing and we felt very privileged to be involved,” says Mark of the three-day conference at Hamilton Island. “On the final day, the grand finale, we had 10 delegates on our Riviera and there were another six Riviera motor yachts to ferry people to Whitehaven Beach. It was a really interesting mix of people; there were different suppliers, McDonald’s licensees [and also Riviera owners]. We couldn’t have asked for a better day with the weather. It was a spectacular event and all catered for by Ben; the champagne was flowing and the food was unbelievable; prawns, bugs, steak, lobster, you name it.”
Michael Power, the board chairman of RMHC SEQ, also attended the event. He says the last 18 months have been especially challenging for charities that rely on events for fundraising, making company donations more valuable than ever.
“It’s always great to receive any funds to help the charity, whether it’s $1,000 or $29,000; it is greatly appreciated. The funds are used to maintain the services we provide for families, including a warm and comforting environment for people in a difficult situation,” says Michael. “Ben has been an outstanding contributor to RMHC SEQ and does a great job of looking after the licensees; we really appreciate it.”
In 2020, RMHC SEQ provided accommodation to 4,203 families across its network of three Ronald McDonald Houses in Brisbane and Overnight Rooms on the Gold Coast. It also welcomed 11,077 visitors to their Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside the Gold Coast University Hospital and the Queensland Children’s Hospital. The longest stay by a family was 272 nights at the South Brisbane House.
