March 29th, 2024Appealing way to spend Good Friday
Daylesford teacher Natalie Kirby, and a host of volunteers, are again collecting donations for The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal – and they hope to best last year’s total of just over $21,000.
Natalie, who teaches physical education and health at Daylesford College, said this year monies raised would be shared with regional paediatric health services – including Grampians Health.
It’s the first time in the appeal’s history that funding will help take the RCH excellence into the regions to support training, scholarships and state-of-the-art equipment.
“I was really pleased to hear that because spreading the money is really great and gives children in rural and remote areas access to excellent health care. Sometimes it can be tricky to get to Melbourne and if you can get care closer to home that is fantastic.”
Natalie said last year’s Good Friday weather conditions had been “horrific, almost monsoonal rain all day” with people reacting by being very generous.
“I think they felt sorry for us and we raised over $21,000. Of course, the competitive part of me always wants to do better each year, and with Covid meaning people don’t carry cash anymore, we are also inventing lots of ways people can donate electronically.”
That includes the online fundraising page and there will also be EFTPOS machines at the raffle table in the Daylesford Coles breezeway most days from now until Good Friday, and outside the Daylesford Town Hall on the big day.
Natalie said every little donation and raffle ticket purchase helped the cause, which she is passionate about for many reasons.
“I spent a fair bit of time in and out of the Children’s as a kid, a lot as an outpatient, and I have lots of friends whose children or brothers and sisters have been there. Also, as a teacher I believe very strongly in the power of children, they are our future, and if we can nurture them, and support them and keep them healthy, we should.”
For more information head to the group’s Facebook or Instagram pages and to donate go to www.fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Daylesford
How the appeal started
In 1931, the Children’s Hospital was at risk of closure due to soaring costs, overcrowding and under resourcing. On hearing this, a team of journalists from The Sporting Globe, part of the Herald and Weekly Times, decided to hold a sports carnival to raise money for sick children.
On September 3, 1931, a crowd of 20,000 spectators enjoyed a sports carnival which began with a football match involving competing jockeys from Flemington and Caulfield, followed by a game with WWI veterans representing the north and the south of the Yarra. A total of £427 was raised to support the appeal.
In 1942, journalist and carnival organiser Jim Blake suggested to the Herald and Weekly Times managing director, Sir Keith Murdoch, that the appeal join forces with HWT radio station, 3DB and run an appeal on Good Friday.
Sir Keith agreed, and the partnership enabled the first all-day broadcast held on Good Friday, raising £8310 for the Children’s Hospital.
Words: Donna Kelly
