Community
25 July, 2025
Health boost for region
THE generosity and efforts of the Camperdown community during this year’s Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal were recognised during a special event in Warrnambool this week.
In a show of gratitude, the RCH Good Friday Appeal Team paid a visit to Warrnambool on Wednesday night to thank volunteers and the community for their donations and hard work.
Once again the annual appeal saw locals and visitors to the region dig deep, despite many going through financial hardship as a reflection of drought conditions and cost of living.
In Camperdown alone, just over $40,000 was raised.
“I honestly didn’t think we would get anywhere close to that given the hard times people and businesses are going through at the moment,” Camperdown Good Friday Appeal area manager Kellie Kempton said.
“But full credit to our town and our region for digging deep and giving what they can.”
The annual appeal has become a family tradition in the Kempton household, with Mrs Kempton taking over the area manager role from her father Robert, who spent more than 40 years in the position.
Mrs Kempton was presented with a ‘five year pin’ during Wednesday night’s recognition evening at The Flying Horse in Warrnambool.
“It was an honour to receive this pin and it’s an honour to do what we do for the children’s hospital,” she said.
“For as long as I can remember, our family home was always flooded with people on Good Friday for the appeal.
“Mum (Chrissy) and dad have been long-time supporters and it felt right to take over the reigns from him. My sisters Michelle and Nicole, and brother Grant also help out on Good Friday – it’s just what we do.”
At The Flying Horse on Wednesday night, executive director of the Good Friday Appeal Rebecca Cowan thanked the many volunteers who had “worked tirelessly” over the past 12 months to raise money for the appeal.
“The amount raised in this region alone was just incredible,” Ms Cowan said.
“We know times are tough right now yet people still dig deep and give what they can and every donation, big or small, is certainly well appreciated and well utilised.
“This year’s record-breaking $23,822,792 brought the total raised since 1931 to more than $492 million.”
Ms Cowan said her team was also excited to announce a record $3 million would be invested into 41 regional health services across Victoria and Southern New South Wales (including Barwon Health), delivering urgently needed paediatric care improvements to children and families in rural and remote areas.
“This investment reflects our deep commitment to regional families,” Ms Cowan said.
“The Royal Children’s Hospital will always be there for the most complex cases, but with this funding we’re helping ensure more children can access the care they need, closer to home.
“It’s a testament to the incredible generosity of Victorians.”
Barwon South West (which includes South West Healthcare) has been allocated $600,000.
Along with advanced education access for staff, these funds will also enable the purchase of life-saving equipment such as neonatal cots, jaundice screening devices and portable pain relief machines.
A dedicated service improvement lead will also be employed to implement best-practice models of care in paediatric diabetes, Hospital in the Home, and outpatient services.
Read More: Camperdown