Hey all, have all the figures together (sorry for the delay!) and here's the story:
donations received: $5946.87 !!
costs:
$3000.00 - final auction price
$350 - buyers premium
$1066 - airfares (Cecily Granites and Susie Low)
$180 - accommodation
$450 - tickets for The Long Journey for Liam's family x 6 (wife Shajira, Bruce, Rhea & Alex Hearne-McKinnon, Cecily's grand-daughter Naomi, Liam Campbell)
$0 - superb framing, with a plaque acknowledging Demonland and Demonology, courtesy of Joeboy!
Total: $5046
We now have $900.87 to buy footy equipment. Happy days! The jumper is now back 'home', ready for unveiling late October when Mt Theo moves into a new office. We are all in excitement mode - the Warlpiri Wizard comes home tomorrow, can't tell you how many young fellas are in the office every day just waiting, waiting...
In other news, I was really chuffed to be invited to the Presidents lunch for the Demons final game at the MCG this season, paid for by your club. A day of highlights for me - first game at the MCG, first 'official' game I had watched Liam play with the big boys, sitting between Ron Barrassi and Dipper... does it get any better? Oh yes, the four magnificant goals Liam kicked, those he set up, and his ability to be just about anywhere he was needed. And let me tell you, even Mr Barrassi thought we could have won that game if Liam had been left to fly :-)
So now we have a couple of quiet weeks with Liam hanging out at the office, going hunting, talking story with family, and clearly he'll have an ever present entourage of young hopefuls. Heroes are important to everyone I guess, but especially out here. And you mob are probably quite unique in that you understand that, and have given us such a wonderful gift. One that will continue to inspire, for many many years.
Cheers
Nangal