Community
26 March, 2026
Appeal expansion
THE Mortlake area Good Friday Appeal will have extra hands on deck this year thanks to the support of Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers.
Mortlake area Good Friday Appeal coordinator Michelle Howat said this year’s event, scheduled for Friday, April 3, would mark the first time in recent memory the CFA had been involved with the Mortlake Good Friday Appeal.
“We’re looking forward to doing the job and getting some money together for the little kids,” she said.
“I had put a call out for volunteers and Jaidyn Tosch (Mortlake CFA firefighter) got in touch with me.
“I said, ‘you ripper’.
“We’ve never had, as long as I can remember, the CFA involved – I think I can remember, as a little girl, they might have been involved.
“It’s great, it’s terrific and I’m really impressed.”
In recent years the Mortlake area Good Friday Appeal has faced challenges associated with having fewer volunteers available to keep boots on the ground, which in past years led to parts of the town missing out on the door knock.
With the support of the CFA, Ms Howat said she was confident of raising a strong result for an incredible cause.
“Dig deep because it’s such a good cause,” she said.
“I personally haven’t had to go down to the Royal Children’s Hospital for either of my kids, but I know people whose kids have been down there.
“It’s such a good cause so it’s important to be doing something.
“Last year we had one of our best years.
“We had some huge fundraisers such as at the Roadhouse, and I’ve got a few tins around the businesses in town that I’ll collect in the next week.”
The CFA become involved after Mortlake CFA firefighter Jaidyn Tosch saw Ms Howat had made an appeal for volunteers to join the cause.
Mr Tosch, who moved to Mortlake less than a year ago, jumped at the chance to get involved as he had previously been a co-organiser in the Ararat area for around six years.
“I’ve been doing the Good Friday Appeal since I could walk,” he said.
“I’d moved here in the last 12 months and it caught me by surprise the CFA here were not involved.
“I reached out because the CFA and the Good Friday Appeal go hand-in-hand together.”
Mr Tosch said he was proud to be involved – as a third-generation firefighter, his family members before him all had boasted long-time involvement in the popular fundraising event.
“My father had done it all his life and so had my grandfather,” he said.
“My brother had spent a little bit of time at the Royal Children’s Hospital but it wasn’t anything major.
“It’s always been a big passion of mine.”
Mr Tosch said the plan for the day would be simple – get out there, make some noise and hope to make a difference for the kids who need it most.
“The plan for the day will be to gather up as many kids and walkers as we can,” he said.
“We will send the trucks out to make a lot of noise to try and get people out of their houses so hopefully they can come out and donate any loose change they may have.
“Whatever people can spare is a big help.”
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