Bids open for Abbott ride, Gillard scarf A BIKE ride with Tony Abbott, dinner with Julia Gillard at one of her two official residences and cricket with whoever is prime minister after the election are up for grabs in a charity auction. So far the Gillard dinner, presumably with a September 14 deadline, has attracted an opening bid of $5000 in the parliamentary press gallery mid-winter ball fundraiser. The Abbott bike ride has opened at $3000. Ms Gillard also has knitted a scarf for the auction. Also on offer is the opportunity for four people to attend the PM's XI cricket match in January 2014 including the pre-game reception at The Lodge and VIP tickets. Liberal frontbenchers Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull have volunteered to be companions at a dinner for six at the National Press Club. There's also an opportunity to dine with some of the press gallery's heavy hitters - Malcolm Farr, Mark Riley, Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis. Qantas has donated a business class travel package for two to either Santiago, New York or London. The ball, now in its 14th year, has raised $2 million for charities. It will be held on June 19 at Parliament House. Bids for the charity auction can be made at http://stores.ebay.com.au/inDemand-Causes/MidWinter-Ball.html