The Latrobe Valley community has once again proven its generosity this year, with more than $120,000 raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
The Royal Exchange Hotel Cork Club has raised more than $57,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal to take its total donations past the $2 million mark.
From humble beginnings, the REH Cork Club started fundraising for the appeal in 1973 with dinner dances and miniature lotto games, with the first ever donation estimated at about $215.
REH Cork Club president Roy Arnold, who has been with the organisation for more than 25 years, said the mammoth fundraising effort was testament to the generosity of the community.
“At the end of the day, everyone wins and it’s for the kids,” Mr Arnold said.
Tin rattlers collected plenty of donations at busy intersections on Thursday and Good Friday while many fundraisers were held throughout the year.
The Latrobe Valley Street Machiners Car Club raised more than $12,000 for the Good Friday Appeal at its car show last month and a country and western show by Our Kinda Country at Flanagan’s Irish Bar raised more than $3200.
Easter and Christmas raffles, the Kay Street Garden craft market and the popular REH Good Friday community family fun day all raised vital funds to help the REH Cork Club past the milestone $2 million fundraising mark for the children’s hospital.
Bushies Bakery raised a staggering $61,000 for the cause through the sale of its famous and quirky hot cross buns, with one dollar from every pack donated to the Good Friday Appeal.
The hot cross buns flew off the Bushies production line throughout the nine-week fundraiser with people flocking to Glengarry and lining up overnight just to sample some of the delicious treats.
Grade 2 and 3 students of Glengarry Primary School designed and decorated the giant cheque which was presented to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Bushies Bakery owner Trevor Ewart estimated his bakery sold more than 250,000 hot cross buns and was blown away by the generosity of his customers.
