LOCAL fire brigades and their volunteer members are preparing to rattle their collection tins for their Good Friday fundraising efforts on April 18, asking the community to ‘give, so that they may grow.’
Since 1931, the Good Friday Appeal has raised an incredible $468 million, all of which has gone directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne to provide world class care to children.
Donations support ground-breaking research, state of the art equipment and technology, patient and family-centred care programs, and foster staff excellence.
The Epping and Doreen brigades are working together to get a head start on their appeal efforts, in consideration of the holiday period.
Good Friday Area Manger and Epping Fire Brigade member Andrew Dalla Via said he was keen to see regular patrons volunteer for the cause.
“It’s a great cause, [and] we have our mascot Captain Koala with us to add a bit of fun and interest,” he said.
“We find people have grown up with the appeal and now they associate Good Friday with the appeal, and they dig deep.”
Their members will be collecting donations at local shopping centres across the weekend at Epping Plaza on Saturday, April 12, and at the Laurimar Town Centre in Doreen on Saturday, April 12, and again on Sunday, April 13.
On Good Friday itself, the brigades will rattle their tins at the intersection of Cooper and High Street in Epping between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
The Kalkallo Fire Brigade are also enthusiastic, with secretary Ally Watson stating that the appeal resonated strongly with their growing community.
“We have some members associated with the RCH,” she said.
“Odds are, there will come a time when someone in our community needs to use the RCH.
“We have EFTPOS machines now, but nothing will take away from the little kid who saved up his pocket money to donate. They are heartwarming moments, [and] we have lots of fun.
“Across the day, we have a competition to see who has guessed the amount closest to what we raised. It is amazing to drive into Jeff’s Shed and unload the tubs. They message me the amounts once it has been counted.”
The Kalkallo Fire Brigade are collecting donations from patrons at the Bunker Hill Shell Serve Station across the evening on April 17 and again on April 18.
The Good Friday appeal will be televised on Channel 7 from midday on April 18, with results announced at the end of the evening.
