Community
24 April, 2025
Appeal sees strong support
CAMPERDOWN proved to be generous despite the tough economic conditions as the town raised over $38,000 as part of the annual Good Friday Appeal fundraiser day last Friday.
At the time of publication, the tally for Camperdown was $38,493 – Camperdown Good Friday Appeal co-ordinator Kellie Kempton said the tally was down on the previous year.
“We are down on last year – last year was a big year, so I’m still rapt that we got anywhere near $40,000,” she said.
“I think that’s still a lot of money for a small country town of 3000 people.
“That was all raised on the day, so that’s pretty good for a day’s effort.
“I’m happy with that, given the current climate.”
Camperdown’s total, alongside Derrinallum’s fundraising total of $1295 and Lismore’s total of $1416, contributed to the final total of $23,822,792 raised for the Good Friday Appeal across Victoria.
Good Friday Appeal chairwoman Penny Fowler AM said this year’s total added to the $468 million raised across the appeal’s 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”
Ms Kempton said there were a number of big contributors to this year’s Good Friday Appeal.
“The top contributor was Music by the Lake – they donated $8900,” she said.
“Camperdown Motorcycle Club gave us $2639.80, and the Hampden Hotel Social Club gave $2054.
“Special mention to my niece Vogue Fleming – she collected, in her tin, $1054.65.
“That was one little girl on her own – she is 12.
“We were really low on tin collectors – we didn’t cover half the town, which was a bit disappointing, but Vogue kept going and going until she could do as much as she could do.
“I think she deserves a special mention, seeing she raised so much in one tin.”
Other contributors to the final tally included:
Camperdown Golf Club – $1900; Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades – approximately $4000; tin shakers – $4200; Woolworths Camperdown – $1803; donation tins in local businesses – around $1300; online and over-the-phone donations – around $5000; and the Good Friday Appeal raffle – $1000.
For the raffle, Kath Purcell took home the first prize of the giant chocolate bunny, with Greg Edwards winning the second prize of a two-tiered display unit filled with Easter eggs, and the third prize, which was a food hamper, was won by Katrina Delaney.
Ms Kempton extended her gratitude to everyone who donated to the appeal, as well as to those who volunteered their time to help out with the fundraiser.
“It’s a very worthy cause – everybody knows what the money goes towards, and when you see those sick kids on the television it touches everybody’s heart knowing that’s helping those kids,” she said.
“A lot of that money is coming back to regional areas – some of the money that was raised is going back to Colac Area Health, South West Healthcare and Barwon Health.
“That’s a big plus this year.
“A big thank you to the Lions Club for helping me on the day as well.
“They helped me count the donations.
“It was a real community effort – I didn’t think we would get anywhere near last year’s total, but I was rapt to find out we were able to raise over $38,000.”
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