St Leonards Community auctionslearn more about trade me stores

About the Store


The St. Leonards Community Auction Store: Bringing back a smile is an initiative designed to do exactly that.
Bring a smile (or hopefully multiple smiles!) back to the faces of the 70 or so primary school children, so devastated by the recent tragedy in their small, close-knit community.

On Wednesday 15 January the lives of everyone in this in this quiet, harbourside community were irreversibly changed forever, by the tragic double homicide of Bradley (9) and Ellen (6). Both were well-loved pupils of the Dunedin suburb’s tiny school. A group of former pupils of the school (some from as far afield as New York City) and concerned members of the community have banded together to create this auction.

Our aims are twofold:
  1. To raise funds to create a fun-filled day for the children of the community, in the hope of providing some hope and happiness, and (as the title says) bringing a smile back to their faces. This event will provide some much needed ‘together-time’ for the students, teachers and parents of the community, and a lasting memory of celebration of the lives of little Bradley and Ellen.
  2. Should we raise funds over and above those required to make this day a success, we will direct every remaining cent into a project, already undertaken by the school itself, to create a lasting memorial to these to two beautiful children.
Support for our cause has been overwhelming, with offers of donation items coming from businesses and individuals big and small, local and national -some with a personal connection to this small Dunedin community, but many with no other reason to donate outside of a compulsion to ‘do what they can’ and to lend aid to an appalling circumstance that has left so many in the community feeling powerless to help. The act of giving is empowering. Try it yourself, and I’m sure you’ll agree.

We now invite you to take some power back, and throw your bids at a wide variety of auction items. From a walk- on role on Shortland Street, (with flights and accommodation thrown in, a full tour of the studios, lunch with the cast, and hair and makeup styled like the stars) to a luxurious retreat for 4 people at the beautiful Village Lake Apartments in Hanmer Springs (complete with pamper packages and power jet boat rides). From a hand-made quilt, to an exclusive oil painting by award-winning local artist Sam Foley (valued at over NZ$6000!) …or would you perhaps prefer your own personalised portrait, drawn from photo by celebrated Dunedin Caricature Artist Murray Webb… whatever floats your boat, we have a wide range of auction items just waiting for you to transform them into smiles through the single click of the ‘bid now’ button.

Please remember this is a genuine auction, with no commission or profit on items pledged. Every cent will go to the intended recipients, the children and community of Dunedin’s St Leonards Primary School.
Back to top
Desktop Mobile

© 2026 Trade Me Limited