Community
23 April, 2025
Good Friday highlights generosity
THOUSANDS were raised for a good cause as the community rallied behind the annual Good Friday Appeal last week.
This year’s appeal highlighted the incredible generosity of south west Victorians with $15,185 raised in Cobden and $38,525 raised in Timboon.
Quota Friends of Cobden Rotary led the Good Friday Appeal in Cobden, and member Fran Warden said she was “really pleased” with the collection results.
“When we opened at 9am we already had $200,” she said.
“When we finished at 5pm we had $13,000.
“With only a fairly small number of collectors, we weren’t able to get over all of the town, but people were very generous.
“We have a special community here in Cobden – quite a lot of people came into the hall to donate.
“I was really pleased when the girls told me at 5pm how much we had made and I was amazed we could collect so much money in one day.”
In Timboon, the Timboon Fire Brigade collected $5697, taking the Country Fire Authority (CFA) tanker and pumper out to the places too far away to walk.
“It all went very well and it was a great day,” Timboon Fire Brigade secretary Howard Meek said.
“We had plenty of volunteers so it was good.
“Everyone always pitches in.
“We had set routes to send people out.
“It’s the same plan and same process every year and it all works pretty well.”
The total collection in Timboon and district were heightened thanks to CFA
Among the donations collected thanks to dedicated CFA volunteers across brigades were Brucknell/Ayrford ($4,152.80), Ecklin ($756.15), Kennedy’s Creek ($1,792.35), Lower Heytesbury ($1,544.00), Nirranda South ($956.55), Nullawarre ($3,738.00), Peterborough ($3,085.75), Princetown ($1,206.45), Simpson ($2,118.05), Timboon ($5,697.50) and Eddie’s Corner ($2,169.45).
The CFA celebrated a milestone as part of this year’s appeal, with the $1.8 million its volunteers helped to raise through collections across Victoria taking the CFA’s 74-year tally over the $40 million threshold.
Good Friday Appeal Timboon area manager Lee Edge took part in organising the annual Good Friday Appeal golf and auction day and said 22 teams played golf, some even travelling from Melbourne.
“A huge thanks to Jill Corneby for collecting all the donations and of course thank you to all the businesses who donate year after year,” she said.
“Thanks as well to the Timboon Golf Club in donating their venue and to their members who helped out on the day to support us to support the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.”
Across Victoria this year the Good Friday Appeal raised $23.8 million.
Good Friday Appeal chair Penny Fowler AM said the appeal had now raised $468 million over its 94-year history.
“Every dollar donated provides lifesaving care at The Royal Children’s Hospital and this funding will further enhance regional capacity, support essential projects to improve patient care, and provide regional hospitals with crucial resources,” she said.
“We want to thank our regional supporters who are at the heart of the Good Friday Appeal for their incredible fundraising efforts over the years.”
Read More: Cobden