• ‘Cloakroom’ raises $12,000 in SA

SA/NT Divisional Commander Major Paul Hateley with Michael Do, an SA Corporate Philanthropy Advisory Group member. BELOW: Auctioneer Jason Harris, Proprietor of Scammell Auctions, in full flight, and Jane Doyle OAM welcomes everyone to The Cloakroom.

Have you ever wondered what’s in the wardrobes of some of Australia’s best-known and best-dressed identities?

South Australian celebrities and media gathered recently to find out at a fundraising auction for the work of The Salvation Army in Adelaide.

Jane Doyle OAM, former Channel 7 newsreader and long-time supporter of The Salvation Army, asked her media friends and other SA celebrities to rummage through their wardrobes and offer some of their favourite items for the auction.

The response created The Cloakroom, a unique charity auction selling preloved shoes, garments, hats, handbags and other accessories, with proceeds helping meet the needs of Adelaide’s vulnerable and homeless community members.

“The idea for this event grew from a throwaway comment I made while emceeing the Red Shield Appeal launch in May,” Jane said. “I mentioned that having left Seven News, I had an over-full wardrobe that may benefit the Salvos. Little did I realise that by the end of the event, Scammells would offer to stage a charity auction, and Mercedes Benz Adelaide and Unley would step up as sponsors.”

Hosted by Scammell Auctions, more than 160 items contributed to both an online auction and a prestigious cocktail event in their showrooms on Friday 27 October, where a selection of the finest pieces were sold by live auction.

Donors ranged from Her Excellency, Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson to Hans, international superstar and accordion-toting wunderkind. Unique collector items include a hand-beaded, Roger Kirk-designed evening dress from State Opera South Australia’s recent production of HMS Pinafore and the iconic black glasses worn by Jane Doyle on her first night at the Seven News desk in 1989.

Local designers, including Paolo Sebastian, were represented, and it wouldn’t have been a celebrity auction without a pair of Willsy’s dazzling earrings.

The event raised almost $12,000 for The Salvation Army’s work, made possible by the generosity and support of Jane Doyle, Scammell Auctions and Mercedes Benz Adelaide and Unley.