FRIDAY: Victorian auctioneers help celebrate 400th edition of Big Issue

The Big Issue will launch its 400th edition tomorrow, 15 years after first hitting streets to support homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people.
To mark the occasion, 30 Ray White real estate auctioneers and agents will team up with Big Issue vendors across the country on Friday, February 10, in a challenge to sell 400 copies of the magazine.

In the morning, real estate professionals from Ray White: Michael Paproth (St Kilda), Andrew Freeman (Port Melbourne), Darren Smith (Croydon), Francis Morello (Carnegie) and Josh Allison (Bundoora) will compete to sell the most magazines in 40 minutes.

The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson said the coordinated sales effort on city streets would help raise awareness of the fortnightly magazine, which is sold by people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, disability and long-term unemployment.

“The magazine provides some of Australia’s most disadvantaged people with the opportunity to earn an income – it empowers them by giving them a hand up, not a hand out,” Mr Persson said.

“Our 400th edition is a major milestone and, with the help of some of Australia’s leading auctioneers, we want to create some noise on the streets to spread the word about who we are and what we do.”

The auctioneers, from Ray White in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth and Brisbane, will have 40 minutes to sell as many magazines as possible, with all proceeds going to vendors.

Ray White Chairman Brian White said auctioneers were looking forward to the challenge: “We’re in the business of selling homes and are delighted to support an initiative that gives homeless people the opportunity to earn an income and put a roof over their heads.”

Vendors buy copies of The Big Issue magazine for $2.50 and sell them on the streets for $5, keeping the difference.
Since the magazine’s launch in 1996, more than six million magazines have been sold, generating more than $13 million in income for vendors.
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Media contacts:
Ray White Group – Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935.
The Big Issue – Eszter Vasenszky 0415319421.

Auctioneers will be selling from 10.30am – 11.10 in five key locations in Melbourne

1. Melbourne Central Station (cnr Swanston & La Trobe sts) – Andrew Freeman (0409 360 043)
2. QV (corner Russell & Lonsdale sts) – Darren Smith (0407 026 139)
3. Corner Bourke St and Exhibition Sts – Michael Paproth (0488 300 800)
4. Corner Elizabeth & Lonsdale Sts – Francis Morello (0415 979 891)
5. Corner Swanston & Lonsdale Sts – Josh Allison (0416 117 361)