The Daylesford/Hepburn community is so generous, the Good Friday Appeal has created a video about the region – and local appeal coordinator Natalie Kirby.

Last year the appeal raised a massive $31,000 – $10,000 more than any other year, equating to $11 per person in the towns.

Natalie said the appeal got in touch and did the video along with her connection “and I just cried all the way through it”.

Natalie said with the Daylesford Town Hall currently tucked away, she was hoping for a marquee somewhere in Vincent Street but there would also be plenty of collectors roving around.

Cash is great but EFTPOS machines are now also on hand to take donations and to pay for raffle tickets. The raffle is still being finalised but Natalie says the business community has once again rallied for the cause – “they are so incredibly generous and supportive”.

“We have $2280 from Natasha Morgan for a workshop for eight people, accommodation from Kudos Villas and Penny Farthing, accommodation, and meals from Daylesford Hotel, vouchers from Cliffy’s.

“I think we have about 30 local businesses who have donated and people are still getting in touch.”

People can also donate online or via a huge QR code on a board outside Cliffy’s. Raffle tickets are being sold in the Coles breezeway and at this Saturday’s Hepburn Football/Netball game, and next Saturday’s Daylesford Football/Netball game.

Natalie says some of the funds raised now go to regional hospitals such as Ballarat Base.

“I think that is a really great change because they have recognised the importance of keeping kids and families close to home and how much that can help their journey.”

Head to their Facebook or Instagram pages for details – and that video.

Above, Natalie’s children and collectors, Xavier and Paddy

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

A traumatic bus incident last year inspired the Eynesbury Fire Brigade to raise money for the annual Good Friday Appeal.

Eynesbury brigade was on scene last May when a bus crash caused injury to multiple children.

Good Friday Appeal area manager and Eynesbury Fire Brigade volunteer Adrian Kendall said a lot of members in the brigade have young kids and we wanted to do more for such a great cause.

“Then the bus accident happened, and we saw doctors flying in from hospitals around Victoria to help and thought what more can we do,” Adrian said.

“It’s not just about raising money, we wanted to go to the hospital because as corny as it sounds kids like firefighters and if we can do something with our time it’s just as valuable.”

Last year the brigade raised money through shaving a member’s mullet off, making $8,333.  This year the brigade wants to get juniors involved in the cause.

“For a town with a population of around 3,000, the money raised is a pretty good effort per capita,” Adrian said.

On Good Friday (March 29 this year), the brigade is allocated a hospital ward for children who can’t make it to the lobby.

Adrian said one child really stood out to them after their visit last year.

“A little boy wouldn’t let anyone near him, but he really warmed up to us,” he said.

“It was awesome to see his happiness but also his mum happy, sometimes you forget how much families are affected too.”

Adrian also lives near where the Eynesbury bus accident happened and his wife Cheslea was one of the first people to reach the scene, comforting children involved.

“For me and other people it emphasized the importance of being there for kids, rather than just raising money,” he said.

“To be able to do something so small and show up in a costume and put a smile on a kid’s face, it’s gratifying.”

CFA members will be out and about rattling tins across the state on Good Friday or you can donate to the Good Friday Appeal online.

For 35 years, Cranbourne CFA member Debbie Jackson has been tin rattling for the Good Friday Appeal, raising much needed funds for sick children attending the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Debbie is the coordinator of the appeal for Casey Group and this year they’ll reach a huge milestone, raising $350,0000 for the extremely worthwhile cause. 

Debbie said each year eight to nine brigades stand on the major intersection of South Gippsland Hwy and Sladen St in Cranbourne and rattle tins, last year they raised a massive $15,710 for the cause. 

“I remember my parents throwing out a donation through the car window to CFA and now it’s my turn to help,” she said. 

“You don’t even have to ask people twice to give donations on the day. Most people throw out the window what they have. Anything above a zero and you’re helping out.” 

She said she was motivated to keep going after many years because it was such a good cause. 

“My job wouldn’t get done if I didn’t have the support of other CFA members on the day. I appreciate everyone’s help and it couldn’t be done without them.” 

Debbie said it’s important to raise money for the Good Friday Appeal because nurses and doctors could only do so much without fundraising for the children. 

“The bigger the total the better is it and the more you can give to the kids, the more equipment you can buy,” she said. 

“In the past I’ve had relatives go to the children’s hospital. Most families know someone who has gone for treatment at the hospital. You give back what you get.” 

And every year brigade members and people driving past to donate are excited to be part of the collection on Good Friday. 

“It’s a good atmosphere, it makes brigade members want to collect on the day. The kids get so excited to see the fire trucks and all our firefighters collecting,” Debbie said. 

This Easter is a great chance to support Daylesford and surrounds annual Good Friday Appeal raising funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital.

The main sponsor of this annual fundraising favourite locally is Biggin Scott, real estate agents in Daylesford.

Biggin Scott director Michael DeVincentis, pictured above far right, with fellow director Tom Shaw and local coordinator Natalie Kirby and her children, says it’s a cause close to his own heart.

“I spent some time in The Royal Children’s Hospital myself as a kid. They basically saved my life,” Michael says.

Michael survived that childhood playground misadventure and went on to have children and now grandchildren of his own.

“We all have kids in our lives,” he says.

Natalie also spent some of her childhood in The Royal Children’s where she forged some wonderful friendships.

As someone who also clearly cares deeply for children it’s a cause very close to her heart as well. She says there’ll be plenty of great opportunities to support this year’s appeal and help it strive to better last year’s record fundraising total of $22,981.

There are some great prizes to be won through the appeal’s raffle with tickets being sold at multiple sites ranging from Biggin Scott’s main street offices to local schools and childcare providers as well as various local businesses.

“We’ll also be selling tickets outside Coles (Daylesford) from this Saturday (April 1)  – so Saturday, Sunday and throughout the week,” Natalie says.

Then on Good Friday (Friday, April 7) Biggin Scott will have a marquee at the front of the Daylesford Town Hall in Vincent Street, Michael says, providing another prime chance to grab a ticket or several, and support the excellent cause.

Daylesford has a long history of generously supporting this cause. In fact this is the appeal’s 93^rd year.

“We couldn’t do it without the community and the generosity of local businesses,” Natalie says.

“We aim to raise a bit more each year and last year we raised nearly $23,000.”

Michael reckons $30,000 is a good goal to reach for this time around – “why not?” he says.

Those keen to contribute can go to the dedicated Facebook page for Good Friday Appeal Daylesford and Surrounds.

There’s also an Instagram account and dedicated fundraising page, making it easy to donate via the virtual tin shake.

The Good Friday Appeal relies on the support of the community to raise funds to ensure that The Royal Children’s Hospital is able to keep providing world-class care to young patients and their families.

Each year the hospital treats more than 44,000 children in the wards and medical centre, 91,000 in emergency and sees over 470,000 through telehealth or as outpatients in the community.

To contribute to the appeal head to:

Facebook: Good Friday Appeal Daylesford & Surrounds 

Instagram: goodfridayappeal_daylesford

Web: https://fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Daylesford

Words: Eve Lamb