Werribee Fire Brigade members are gearing up for the Good Friday Appeal
Werribee Fire Brigade members will be hitting the streets once again this Good Friday, hoping to raise as much as possible for The Royal Children's Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal.
Fundraising as a brigade since 1977, the brigade begins planning months before the day itself, taking into account where members will be stationed, transport for the day and most importantly who will be cooking the fish on the BBQ to keep them fueled.
Having raised well over $1 million for the cause over the years, the Appeal is a key event in the brigade’s annual calendar.
Werribee Fire Brigade Captain Michael Wells has been a CFA member for 36 years and has fond memories of fundraising with the brigade in the late 1980s right through to today. He said fundraising is a joint effort between the brigade itself and the wider community.
“We rely on our members to get involved, both in the lead-up to and on the day itself, and we rely on our community to be generous enough to allow us to do that,” Michael said.
“Everyone gets behind the cause and it really inspires us to keep doing this.”
For the brigade members, fundraising for the Appeal is a proud extension to their volunteerism with CFA.
“As firefighters, we often see devastation that can occur and incidents where children might end up needing the services of The Royal Children’s Hospital, whether it’s a burn or an injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident,” Michael said.
“We volunteer with CFA because we are community-minded and like giving back, so this is just another way we can contribute. We understand the importance of having the best facilities available, and if we can contribute to this in some way, it is worthwhile.”
The cause hits close to home for the team, with many brigade members using the services of The Royal Children’s Hospital over many years.
Werribee Fire Brigade firefighter Mick Davie is one of those members. Mick has done everything and more over his last 20 years of fundraising, from door-knocking, tin-rattling, to sitting on the organising committee.
"My family has a long history with both CFA and the Good Friday Appeal. Both my kids and my wife get there early in the morning with me, and we spend the day helping to raise as much money as we can for the cause,” Mick said.
“We’ve seen the impacts the Appeal can have firsthand, with both of our kids needing treatment.
“Our son, Jake, has needed two head reconstructions and our daughter, Charlotte, is currently going through cancer treatment, so we are at the hospital weekly. We can’t speak highly enough about them and what they have done for our family.
“We are so lucky to have the Royal Children’s Hospital so close and accessible to us. The staff there are the best in the world at what they do, they are so good at finding the best treatment for each individual and what will work best for each child.
“There is a reason that people come from around the world to see specialists there.
“We need the hospital to have the best gear possible so our kids can be looked after.
“You can see the impact that the Good Friday Appeal can have as soon as you visit The Royal Children’s Hospital. It is really important to keep the support going.”
This year, CFA volunteers are aiming to surpass $40 million in total funds collected for the Good Friday Appeal across 74 years.
On Good Friday, call 1300 APPEAL between 9am and 11pm.