Thursday, 2 May 2019

Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (10:51): Each year, the Good Friday Appeal provides an opportunity for all Victorians to dig deep in aid of the Royal Children’s Hospital. Last year, more than 338 000 children were treated at the hospital’s specialist clinics. They had more than 50 000 admissions and treated more than 86 000 children in emergency.

Many regional families rely on the Royal Children’s Hospital, thousands making the often long and repeated journey for treatment. These regional communities always respond strongly to the call to shake the tin on Good Friday. Year on year, towns from northern Victoria feature strongly on the country board, and they did it again this year, with Wangaratta raising $116 053 and Wodonga raising $88 689. A special shout-out goes to Tatong, with a population of 300 people, who raised a whopping $58 458 through their family fun day and auction.

The CFA across Victoria are a key volunteer force on Good Friday, and I was proud to join my South Wangaratta CFA fire brigade in the truck again this year with children from the Warby Ranges—particularly the Evans children Caleb and Jesse—who look forward to the annual challenge of who can raise the most dollars between them. The money supports the Royal Children’s Hospital, but also instils a sense of teamwork, morals and selflessness by taking time from their day to support other children who do not have that opportunity at Easter. CFA collectors around the state raised an amazing $1 612 671. Thank you to everyone from northern Victoria for doing your bit to support the Good Friday Appeal.