• Second online Lost Property Auction raised record $234,000 for charity
• The Steve Waugh Foundation, Dymocks Children’s Charities, Stewart House and St Vincent de Paul Society to receive proceeds
• Sydney Airport thanks the public for their support and generosity

Sydney Airport’s 2015 Lost Property Auction has raised a record $234,000 for charity.

“We’d like to thank everyone who made a bid in Sydney Airport’s online Lost Property Auction this year and contributed to this record result,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

“We’re delighted to have raised $234,000 to be shared among four worthy charities: the Steve Waugh Foundation, Dymocks Children’s Charities, Stewart House and St Vincent de Paul Society.

“The auction was hugely popular with the public. Website traffic was nearly 30 times higher than usual during the auction period, with 238,000 visits and 113,000 unique visitors to the auction website, while more than 2000 people attended the public viewing day prior to the auction.”

The proceeds will be distributed among four charities, which were selected prior to the auction through a competitive application process. The charities thanked Sydney Airport and outlined how the funds will help their causes.

Steve Waugh AO said: “The Steve Waugh Foundation is privileged and appreciative of Sydney Airport for their tremendously generous contribution towards helping us provide life changing support to children and young adults living with a rare disease. This year, we celebrate the past and our 10th year. More importantly, we look forward to continually shaping a better future for those living with a rare disease with the support of companies like Sydney Airport who share our team spirit, passion and commitment to the community.”

Dymocks Children’s Charities General Manager Paul Swain said: “Dymocks Children’s Charities are delighted to partner with Sydney Airport to improve the literacy opportunities for over 500 primary school students at Riverwood Public School, Eastlakes Public School and Daceyville Public School. The best quality, brand new books will be chosen by the schools to benefit their students. Literacy levels are declining in Australia and we would like to thank Sydney Airport for helping to reverse this worrying trend in their local communities.”

Stewart House CEO Graeme Philpotts said: “Stewart House is very proud to be associated with Sydney Airport. We are thankful for the privilege of being a recipient of proceeds from the 2015 Lost Property Auction. The funds donated will truly make a difference to the lives of 20 children from public schools close to Sydney Airport who need a 12-day break from their current circumstances.”

St Vincent de Paul Society Acting CEO, Dianne Lucas said: “The St Vincent de Paul Society is extremely grateful to be one of the charity recipients of Sydney Airport’s Lost Property Auction.

The tremendous success of the auction means the funds received will support the Kids Engaged in Education Program (KEEP) for an entire year. The KEEP program recognises that children who experience homelessness, trauma and upheaval in their lives benefit from a meaningful and continuing relationship with education, a powerful tool in overcoming social disadvantage. The generous donation means that we will be able to empower the children and families accessing the KEEP program in 2016."

Items left at the airport are logged into a system and stored at the airport for two months to give owners the opportunity to claim their goods. Where items are clearly labelled, Sydney Airport endeavours to reunite them with their owners. For items that remain unclaimed, Sydney Airport holds a lost property auction every 12 months with all proceeds going to charity.

Nine online auctions were held from 10 to 19 November 2015, featuring 2000 lots with more than 5000 individual items, including cameras, cosmetics and clothing, as well as unique items such as a sleep apnoea machine, Chinese tea set and vintage telephone.

The items which raised the most money included: A Canon EOS 5D digital camera and lens for $4,000; A selection of Asian paintings for $2,500; A new gold iPhone 6 Plus for $1,200; A Christian Dior handbag for $880; and A box of designer scarves for $870.