General News
23 April, 2022
Strong local support for RCH
Communities across Ararat Rural City have again thrown their support behind the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, raising over $50,000.
Communities across Ararat Rural City have again thrown their support behind the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, raising over $50,000.
In Ararat, CFA volunteers and dozens of local children scoured local streets on Good Friday, collecting $10,102.
A further $4,235 was collected at the traffic lights and more than $1,000 was raised at a concert two weeks ago at the RSL.
Coupled with collection tins (also known as Wellbys), individual fundraisers by groups like Ararat Motorcycle Club and direct pledges to the Good Friday Appeal hotline, Ararat’s grand total was $36,506.
Ararat CFA Captain Daniel Ramsdell said donations were on par with last year, although volunteer numbers had dropped.
“It was the same money wise but there weren’t as many people, because of school holidays I’m hoping,” he said.
“We probably lost 30 to 40 kids. We usually have five busses with 20 on each but it is what it is.”
“A big thanks to the volunteers, they have done a massive job,” Captain Ramsdell said.
In Willaura, approximately $11,000 has been raised for this year’s appeal.
“This is a wonderful result for the Children’s Hospital, and the committee is thrilled with the generosity shown by our community,” said Willaura Branch President of the appeal, Jo Byron.
In particular, Ms Byron was delighted with the response to the raffle, donations through the Community Bank Welbys as well as bidders in the wood auction.
The wood choppers were Les Bright, Justin Coote, Mick Ryan and Pararway Pastoral Company, and their efforts contributed close to $2,000 to the Willaura tally.
Winner of the raffle was Zoe Brain and the donor hamper was won by Jo Armytage.
Last week the Advocate reported on the Maroona Hotel’s amazing $488 donation to the RCH Good Friday Appeal via its over stuffed ‘Welby’ tin.
The good news is that when Willaura RCH Good Friday Appeal Committee treasurer Colin Easton dropped into the pub on Good Friday afternoon he found that after just two weeks, patrons had tossed in another $360, taking the total to a very generous $848.
Even better, when the drinkers realised how close they were to the thousand dollar mark they rallied around on the spot and scrounged enough to take the final total to $1,003!
Well done Maroona!
The Pomonal community raised a staggering $35,000 – mostly from a classic car show.