DRENCHING rain could not deter a dedicated band of locals from pounding the pavement to help raise more than $28,000 – another record-breaking effort – for this year’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Despite more than 24 millimetres of rain hitting the town overnight and the heavens well and truly open at 9am on Friday, the volunteer ‘tin rattle team’ turned up at Island Park for the annual appeal door knock.

Casterton appeal committee president, Barb McDonald said local organisers were once again overwhelmed by the district’s generosity for the appeal.

“Every year the community digs deep to support the amazing work of the Royal Children’s Hospital and every year we are overwhelmed by the local support given, not just by the Casterton township, but at Wando Vale, Nareen, Carapook, Sandford, Dunrobin, Corndale, Bahgallah and Dergholm and all the farming areas in between,” she said.

“Whether it’s 10 cents or $10, every donation counts to that effort; we have residents who save up their five cent pieces to add to the tin, we have kids who raid their pocket money and we have residents who leave out envelopes in a regular spot – all of those contributions make a difference for the hospital.”

Mrs McDonald said unfortunately – and understandably – numbers of collectors were down and there were some areas of town that may have been missed.

She said those who did commit to the day did an amazing job and the committee was extremely grateful for their efforts.

“It was so wet and cold on Friday morning, but we still had many of our regular collectors – families and groups of friends who have been doing the door-knock for years – as well as some new faces, come out to pound the pavement again,” she said.

“We also have great help from the team of Casterton Sandford footballers and netballers who turn out to help with the collection.

“The children’s has helped so many local families over the years and there are kids from our area that still use the hospital today; some of those families have been doing this for years as their own ‘thank you’ for having a happy, health family.

“We also have families who tell us they are grateful their children haven’t had to use the hospital yet, but appreciate that it is there, if it is ever needed.

“They are all volunteers though – they don’t have to do this and we are grateful to everyone who ended up drenched and cold on Friday, to help with this incredible fundraising effort.”

Despite their small populations, Coleraine and Digby also made their annual contributions to the Good Friday Appeal, contributing $4515 and $2530 to what was, again, an overall fundraising record of $23,061,320 - $2,955,656 from rural and regional Victoria.

Businesses add to the tally

COLLECTION tins held at local businesses throughout the year start the collection tally and in the spirit of the day, several local businesses also host extra fundraising events.

Casterton’s Sports & All collaborated with the Albion Hotel and Concept Salon to host a fundraising fashion parade last week and with the guest list capped at 100 tickets, the event was sold-out days before the models hit the catwalk.

In addition to ticket money, raffles donated by Sports & All and its suppliers and the sale of custom shopping bags – made just for the Good Friday Appeal – as well as sales clothing racks, with the proceeds going into the donation bin, all added up to a massive fundraising tally of $3680.

Sports & All proprietor, Vikki O’Brien said she was amazed and grateful for the community’s support of the event and looked forward to doing it all again, next year.

“Ladies are traveling from near and far, with customers from Geelong and Hamilton making the trek to Casterton to help raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal and the amazing work of the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Mrs O’Brien said. 

“Apologies to anyone that has missed out this year - don’t worry though, as we are aiming for this to be an annual event and as with anything, the second year is always bigger and better.

“We may even put on a summer fashion parade!”

Good Friday itself also saw the return of the family fun day at Casterton Central and the week of challenges, leading up to the day.

In the week prior, customers set challenges for Bronwyn and her team to complete, in return for donations to the Good Friday Appeal, with anchovy and dry cinnamon eating and even a giant baby turning up at the local pub, just some of the tasks completed.

And again – despite the weather – Good Friday saw the café’s tables and al fresco area packed with families enjoying face painting, kids Easter craft activities, Easter egg hunt, live music and loading up on coffee, with every cent from hot bevvy sales going into the fundraising kitty.

The annual goods and services auction was led once again by online bidding for a custom-made cake by local artisan, Chris Gorman at Chrissy.Made, with Neville Roy taking home her incredible creation for the bargain price of $750.

CC’s Bronwyn Balzan said community support for the event continued to grow and she thanked everyone who contributed to the day.

“We had local businesses just dropping items in for the auction, thank you to Foodworks and John and Kathryn Webb, who once again donated most of the raffle prizes,” she said.

“Thanks also to the organisations who helped us out at the last minute with gazebos, so we could keep everyone dry and to all of the customers who set us challenges during the week, turned up to grab a coffee and bring the kids for the day’s activities.

“Our auction alone raised around $2800 and the total amount collected was $8637.35 – we can’t thank everyone enough for their support and we are really proud to be able to add this to the district’s fundraising efforts.”

Gianna Saba and the Dergholm Social Club also had a big day of fundraising, with not one, not two, but 12 prize draws in their RCH Good Friday Appeal raffle.

“We have the collection tin in the bar, all year ’round and every year I buy a jar, fill it with eggs and customers can make a gold coin donation to guess how many eggs are in the jar – the closest guess wins the jar and the eggs,” Ms Saba said.

“We also had the Dergholm Social Club raffle … the club buys most of the prizes and the social club members add to it to make up 12 really great prizes for the raffle.

“It’s our little bit, but such a big effort from our little town and a big thank you to everyone who supports the fundraising.”