Good to give

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
THE Upper Yarra community dug deep to raise almost $18,000 for the annual Good Friday Appeal this year.
From community groups, to businesses and school students, Upper Yarra townships flashed across the television screen as each pledge was announced.
Many Upper Yarra community members said they donated because they had been a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), or they have a child or know someone who has had to spend time in the hospital.
Victoria’s midnight tally on Friday 6 April showed a record breaking $15.8 million for the Melbourne hospital, while Good Friday has become a day where everyone comes together “for the children”.
Simone Fraser was overwhelmed with the support she was shown in the Wandin community, and she even made a television appearance on the Good Friday Appeal telecast with her son Lachlan, who was treated for meningococcal B at the RCH last year.
The Bubs and Kids Community Market she organised with a group of like-minded Wandin mothers managed to raise $3710.
“We fundraised through the market but also had shaker tins around town and did an online pledge page called Lachlan’s Gift, so people not involved with the market could still donate,” she said.
Ms Fraser said despite the poor weather on the market day it was still “an awesome turnout and the stallholders were rapt”.
“I’ve had great support from the community, people asking me to take donations, offering support and sharing experiences,” she said.
“I’ve been told the first (fundraising event) is always the hardest but all the hard work we put in, it was worth it for the outcome.”
Another Wandin venture, the entry fees for the monthly summer Custom and Car Show held in the Wandin Shopping Centre carpark and Union Road, allowed organisers Sindy Vitale and Anne Crymble to pledge $3800.
“It took me three and a half hours to get through on the phone line,” said Ms Vitale, “and I told singer Johnny Ruffo I’d give them $100, but if they got it read out on the telly for the Wandin community they could have the lot.”
Ms Vitale said: “At the end of the day, what’s better than to help the kids?
“My son had an operation at the hospital when he was seven, and as an adult who don’t you know, whether it’s a friend or an acquaintance, we all know a story to do with the good work of the Royal Children’s Hospital, so why not give?”
Yarra Junction publican Trotter agreed and was pleased to pledge almost $10,000 this year.
He said it was a “ripper weekend” at Cunningham’s Hotel, where six bands turned up to entice the patrons to give generously.
“One guy volunteered to come and play for us and he just rocked our socks off,” he said.
The pledge, with money raised from the concert weekend, a fundraiser breakfast, raffles and a year’s worth of tips from generous pub-goers totaling $9725, was read out just after 11pm.
Yellingbo Primary School also flashed across the small screen, with a $211.05 donation from a student math’s day.
Principal Rick Scott said every year the students brought coins into the classroom to make a snail trail.
“They do math’s activities with the coins and then we donate them to the appeal,” he said.
“The kids weigh the coins, separate them into values and measure how long the trail of coins is.”
This year the students came up with nine kilograms of coins, including 16 metres of five cent coins, 12 metres of 10 cent coins, eight metres of 20 cent coins, one and a quarter metres of 50c coins, 30 centimetres of $2 coins and 35cm of $1 coins.
Money raised from the appeal, now in its 81st year, will fund state-of-the art medical equipment, ground-breaking research and scholarship opportunities.