With a combined total population that is a tiny two percent of Geelong’s, coming so close to topping their donations has lit a fire of ambition and belief in the kindness and generosity that lives in the heart’s of local residents.
“Our final tally for 2023 of $123,000 was higher than amounts raised by much larger towns such as Albury, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Bendigo,” Good Friday Appeal area manager Karie Playford said.
“It speaks volumes of just how important the Royal Children’s Hospital is to our community.
“There are many RCH families locally.
“When we think of RCH patients, we immediately think of children but there are also so many adults in our area who were also RCH patients in their childhood that would not be here as active members, contributing to our amazing towns now if it wasn’t for the care they received all those years ago.”
Getting off to a shearing good start, the (now) annual Shear for the Kids event organised by Abby and Steve Talbot on March 15 kicked of a full calendar of events that has the town buzzing with the possibility that we could get ahead of Geelong on the tally board this year.
Both Corowa and Wahgunyah will be busy hives of activity on Good Friday with plenty of fun activities and opportunities for locals to get involved and contribute to raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Crews from Wahgunyah CFA, Corowa Fire & Rescue, RFS Federation Support and the Volunteer Rescue Association will be out and about, knocking on doors and shaking collection tins, while the Battle of the Bridge will see Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club on the NSW side of the river competing for cross-border honours against Wahgunyah CFA on the Victorian side.
With less than $40 separating the two states last year the rivalry is sure to be intense on the John Foord bridge.
The Apex Club will once again be walking from their Bow Street club rooms to the Balldale Hotel in their second “Club to Pub” event, which raised $20,000 when last held in 2022.
Wahgunyah Football Netball Club will be hosting their season opener and will be taking up a collection at the gate and around the ground.
Local eateries, Docs Café and Painters Café, will continue their traditions of supporting the appeal, with Docs making a donation for every coffee, egg and bacon roll or sweet muffin sold on the day. Painter’s will be donating $1 for every piece of fish sold, and are encouraging pre-orders to ensure you don’t miss out.
“We are hoping Corowa Wahgunyah will once again finish high on the Regional Tally Board.
“So far the local community has shown wonderful support in our lead up events, and we are encouraging everyone to dig deep on Friday to show others that even smaller communities like ours can do great things for a cause which has helped so many families in our area” Karie said.
Five ways you can suppor the Good Friday Appeal locally:
Head interstate! Make your donation as the two towns compete for bragging rights in the Battle of the Bridge. John Foord Bridge 7am – 11am.
Knock knock! Toss some coins into collection tins as fire and rescue crews doorknock the streets from 9:30am.
Join the Egg-citing fun! Hop on out to Balldale for plenty of family fun, and welcome the Apex walkers as they finish their Club to Pub journey. From 1pm at Bruce Richardson Park.
Put your money where your mouth is! Breakfast, lunch and dinner is sorted with Doc’s and Painters Café both making donations to the Appeal with the purchase of selected items.
Be in it to win it!– Buy a raffle ticket. With some amazing prizes including wood, wine, vouchers and chocolate, there is something for everyone. Tickets available online at raffletix.com.au/?ref=grgvn or via the Corowa Wahgunyah Good Friday Appeal’s Facebook page.
