In 1999 Wilson Te Whata, a Maori married with 2 young children; living and working in the Dubbo District of Central New South Wales, was injured during rugby training with the Dubbo Rhinos Rugby Club. Wilson was immediately flown to Sydney by air ambulance for treatment. It did not take long before the diagnosis of quadriplegia was announced and the realization that years of rehabilitation and treatment would be necessary.

The Character and Calibre of the Club and Officials
Under the leadership of then President Steve Davis, the club was determined assist Wilson financially and decided to undertake a fund-raising campaign. The task was made more difficult when the HIH Insurance Company collapsed 6 days before Wilson was due to receive an insurance payment.

A Professional Approach and a Jersey Auction
Discussions were held with fundraising professionals about what could be done and the most efficient methods to employ. After consideration of the resources available it was agreed that a new and perhaps radical approach was needed if the $500 000 plus required was to be achieved.

An auction of rugby jerseys using the internet was considered to be appropriate given the relatively small numbers in the Dubbo area, lack of a database, rural conditions and the need to reach a significant number of people who would be sympathetic to Wilson’s situation.

The scheme was slow to start.

Small numbers were approached for jersey donations, a trial auction of a third grade Rhinos jersey yielded $120, proving that that there was probably a market for more ‘desirable’ jerseys. The lack of a detailed action plan and the more immediate need to work on a home for Wilson’s diverted the club’s attention from the fund raising. However over 300 jerseys were donated to the first round of requests sent out via email.

A Partnership
Late in 2002 the then Australian Quadriplegic Association (AQA), now Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCI) invited Wilson to be one of the eight Ambassadors for a Capital Appeal that SCI was undertaking to raise $4 million for a Rehabilitation facility at Collaroy. Steve Davis saw the potential of a joint approach for the jersey auction. He discussed the prospects Greg Bergan, CEO of SCI to gauge reaction – it was very positive and enthusiastic. At the same time Steve contacted John Searl of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU). John was then the Community Officer and had been actively involved in various aspects of Wilson’s rehabilitation.

The World Rugby Jersey Auction developed out of the discussions and a meeting between Steve Davis and Graham Campbell of the Dubbo Rhinos, John Searl, Community Officer of the ARU and fundraising professionals, late in 2002.