Burke, who is fast becoming one of the most sought-after charity auctioneers in South Africa, managed to raise the funds over a one-month period at charity auctions held for Reach for a Dream (R385 000), the Amy Biehl Foundation (R317 000), a Camps Bay Business Forum Gala Dinner (R137 000) to assist homeless people in the area, the Cape Autism Charity Trust (R170 000), Fellows for Cancer (R300 000), Greyton House College and Darling College (R80 000 each) and the International School (R130 000).

Auctioneering runs in the family, and Burke conducted his first ever auction for his auctioneer father at the tender age of 12. He explains: “We had a family business in Zimbabwe and one day my father needed to go to the toilet in the middle of an auction, so he turned to the crowd and said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the best auctioneer in the world!’ I had no choice but to just carry on in his absence, and I absolutely loved it.”

While the auctioneer’s job is to raise the excitement level in the room, Burke makes the point that it’s the donors that come to the party with sponsored packages that make all the difference to the amount of money raised.

He explains: “It’s one of the things that made, for example, the Amy Biehl Foundation gala evening such a tremendous success. Items for sale included tea with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu (which raised R40 000), and a Robben Island tour with Ahmed Kathrada (which raised R30 000). Who wouldn’t want these?”

Likewise, items up for auction at the Cape Autism Charity Trust event including a sculpture by Leonard Smith (sold for R40 000), while the Fellows for Cancer auction enticed people to open their pocketbooks for a Richard Scott painting (R25 000) plus a photo and cricket bat both signed by Graham Smith (R35 000).

“Both organisations were over the moon as the monies raised were way beyond their original expectations,” says Burke.

In spite of the difficult financial times, it appears that many people are still willing to give generously to support the causes that are close to their hearts.

“I am personally determined to break all records this year,” says Burke. “And I’m pleases to say that all the charity events at which I’ve presided have achieved higher than they did the previous year.”

With only a few hours’ notice, Burke conducted his first auction in 2003 for the Nelson Mandela 466664 Charity. With the likes of Bono, Oprah and Madiba himself present, he raised R2-million for the charity in one night, and since then has raised over R40-million for charities across the country.

Professionally, Burke has moved away from traditional live auctions-in-a-room to the world of live online auctions, having joined GoIndustry DoveBid SA just two years ago in its new business development division. Joey, together with MD Kim Faclier, are working to introduce the company’s long-established assets online auction platform to the South African property market. Two successful online property auctions have been held to date, with a third planned for the first quarter of 2012.

“When I was first approached to join GoIndustry DoveBid SA, I thought: ‘Never! I’m a live auctioneer – there’s no way I’d be interested in auctions on the net.’ That was until I saw a GoIndustry DoveBid live auction in progress online, with bids coming in from all over the world in real time. I realised then not only was this the way of the future, it became as exciting for me as the stock market is for a stockbroker.”

For more information on charity auctions or GoIndustry DoveBid’s SA property division, contact Joey Burke (021 702 3206 or email joey.burke@go-dove.com), or Kim Faclier (021 702 3206, 082 554 6295 or email kim.faclier@go-dove.com), or visit www.Go-Dove.com/southafrica.