Residents and visitors to Gisborne had no escape on Good Friday as members of the Gisborne Fire Brigade and local Scout groups came knocking at the doors of residents, raising $15,747 for the Good Friday Appeal.
Collection tins were filled at the Caltex Petrol Station, hotels within the township and visitors to the traditional Gisborne versus Kyneton Football match gave generously.
It is a collective effort across the township. Lieutenant Mark Carter started with Bakers Delight and Brumby's Bakery, which supplied hot cross buns to keep energy levels high, while Doonies Diner supplied enough chips and potato cakes to keep the small army of volunteers powering through the day.
Additional amounts were raised within the Gisborne township through the efforts of Williamsons Foodworks' Gisborne and Sunbury stores. Employees donate time every Good Friday to ensure the store operates at capacity, raising large sums of money for the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal through raffles, face painting, and other storewide promotions.
This year the Gisborne Fire Brigade was honoured to have a special guest support our members.
We were joined by Professor John Hutson, Chair of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Children’s Hospital, who said, “I was very happy to come along and show support for all the wonderful volunteers helping out with the appeal.
"The contributions that come in from rural and regional communities like Gisborne are invaluable to the work of people like me at the hospital. The Good Friday Appeal supports things like specialist machinery and research into diseases that affect kids. It means we can improve diagnosis and treatment of kids with really complex problems.
"The time the volunteers put into this makes all the difference to sick children.”
Professor Hutson is the father-in-law of the brigade secretary and, with his trademark bow tie, was more than happy to pose for pictures with Scouts, Junior brigade members and supporters of this year's Appeal.
Lieutenant Mark Carter (Appeal co-ordinator for the Gisborne township) expressed his extreme gratitude to the many people who contributed to make the day possible and is already looking forward to the 2016 Appeal with the challenge to eclipse $16,000.
Photo left to right:
Chris Issi (Doonies Diner)
Kimberly Wade (Junior GFB member)
Rowena Campbell (Scout)
Professor John Hutson (Chair of Paediatric Surgery RCH)
Courtney Borg (Junior GFB member)
Xavier Dorward (Cub)
Lieutenant Mark Carter ( Appeal co-ordinator GFB)
Author: Bevan Moody