ART AUCTION AND FUNDRAISING DINNER The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation’s inaugural charity art auction and fundraising dinner was held at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art on 18 September 2008. All income raised has been used to respond to the request from the remote Aboriginal community of Yirrkala in Arnhem Land for a Healing Centre that will play a vital role in addressing the emotional and spiritual well-being of the community. This event raised around $300,000 for this most important health initiative in Yirrkala. So we are well on our way to raising the $1.2 million construction cost, and we are planning more fundraising events. If you have suggestions we would love to hear them. More than 100 individual items were received from artists, collectors, and galleries throughout Australia. The art sub-committee selected 40 of the most valuable works by important artists for the live auction and a further 20 works for the silent auction held on the night. All additional artworks were selected for on-line presentation in order to raise further funds. While Yirrkala is home to many of Australia’s finest Indigenous artists and cultural custodians it has experienced an epidemic of substance abuse and youth suicide that has spiraled to epic proportions, affecting the mental health of family members who are living with this tragedy and its heartbreaking consequences.        ABF Chair Jennifer Isaacs The ABF is working closely with the Yirrkala community including the Yirrkala Dhanbul Corporation which has offered to manage the Centre and overlook its administration. Culturally appropriate land for the Healing Centre has already been identified.