It is not very often a community group approaches Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes district councils' community road adviser Jo Henderson and says it wants to raise money for road safety.
Mrs Henderson is excited the Queenstown Rotary Club has decided to buy high-visibility vests for all Queenstown area primary school pupils with the money it raises at its annual Melbourne Cup Race Day charity auction on November 4.
The auction will feature guitars from a famous musician and an equally well-known band.
The club aims to raise at least $18,000 to purchase 1500 vests, which will be given to the 1200 children who attend the five primary schools in the Wakatipu basin to wear to and from school and on school trips.
High-visibility vests were particularly important for children attending schools around Queenstown because visibility and road conditions were often affected by the weather.
Children who lived in rural areas and had to wait at bus stops on the side of road would be safer wearing vests, and children under 10, who often did not yet have the skills to recognise speed and distance, would also benefit from being more visible, Mrs Henderson.
"It's really a great truly community-based thing they are doing, where the people in the community are looking out for its vulnerable future residents."
Auction organiser Chris Campbell said this year's big ticket items had already drawn interest from people unable to attend the auction on November 4 who hoped they could bid by telephone.
Among the items are two framed Fender guitars, one signed by Sir Paul McCartney, the other by the members of rock band U2.
Other items include a violin signed by Andre Rieu and framed photographs from Richie McCaw, Scott Dixon, and Tiger Woods, a tennis ball signed by Rafael Nadal and items donated by Queenstown businesses, including last year's favourite - a vasectomy from Clinic QT.
Mr Campbell, a Queenstown realtor, said deciding on a cause that would benefit all Queenstown's schools was difficult until he saw St Josephs School children wearing the vests and thought "wouldn't it be great if every child had one".
"Kids and roads just don't mix."
