A GREAT ‘GOOD FRIDAY’ COLLECTION

Once again, the Woodend, Newham and Hesket-Kerrie CFA Brigades conducted the annual Good Friday collection for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal throughout the roads, streets and tracks of the area.
A very big thank you to all of the CFA volunteers, family members and friends from the three brigades, around 50 in total, who volunteered to door knock, patrol intersections and count the collection, many giving up most of their day, and to the Woodend Ladies’ Auxiliary for ensuring that all were well fed and watered throughout the day
A special thanks to everyone living in and visiting the Woodend, Newham, Hesket and Kerrie areas who donated so generously, raising a total of around $12,150 – including nearly $8,000 for Woodend, nearly $1,400 for Newham and more than $2,800 for Hesket-Kerrie.
A special mention to the McKinnon family who had six members collecting in Woodend, and between them they raised around $2,500. The Kyretses over $1,200 and the Botwood family nearly $1,000.
Unfortunately, we were not able to cover every home,” stated Good Friday Collection Co-Ordinator and Woodend CFA 1st Lieutenant Mike Dornau, “because at around 2pm, just after we had returned to collecting after lunch, we received a call to a grass fire out of control at a property off Black Forest Drive.
“The unfortunate delay meant that we missed several hours of valuable Good Friday collecting, so we missed a lot of houses that we would normally visit. Many people were also away for the Easter break and start of the School Holidays.
“If we missed your house due to the fire, you can drop your donation into the Brigade on any Sunday morning (note we won’t be there Easter Sunday). We have until May to send donations to the Hospital Appeal”.
A special thank you also to the team at the Commonwealth Bank for the final money count.