Novice Auctioneer Terry Has The Gift Of The Gavel
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday May 13, 2004
HE'S only a beginner in the bidding game, but Terry Dawson already has a golden gavel.
At 38, Mr Dawson said he was by far the oldest contestant at the Illawarra Real Estate Institute and Law Society's novice auctioneers night on Tuesday.
But his age proved no hindrance when he took out the top award over four youthful competitors.
Not bad for a man who, 10 weeks ago, was a greenkeeper.
``I didn't want to be mowing lawns at the age of 50. You could call it a bit of a mid-life crisis," he said.
``So I applied for a job in real estate. I haven't had any experience at auctioneering, except for practising to my kids while they were eating."
More than 300 people attended the night, where young and upcoming auctioneers compete on a regional level for the chance to compete in the state finals next week.
Mr Dawson, from Ray White Kiama, said a colleague convinced him to enter the annual competition, and gave him a few tips about how to run an auction.
The contestants had to raise their own prizes to auction on the night, and the proceeds went to the Westpac Life Saver 3 Rescue Helicopter.
Mr Dawson thought he had a pretty darn good prize - two nights accommodation in Kiama, as well as several gift vouchers and meal tickets.
He had traipsed all over town appealing to the charitable side of Kiama business owners, who donated the goods.
But when he turned up at the event and discovered one of his competitors had organised a flight on a fighter jet, the alarm bells started to ring.
He thought he had nothing to lose.
``The younger guys were nervous, so I just played it low key and used humour along the way. I was the last competitor and I saw I had nothing to lose," he said.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury