Victorians give generously as 2025 Good Friday Appeal donations flow in
The Good Friday Appeal has raised a record $23,822,792 for the state’s sickest kids as Victorians generously donated to help the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The Good Friday Appeal has raised a record $23,822,792 for the state’s sickest kids after Victorians generously donated to support the Royal Children’s Hospital.
It came after Run For The Kids raised an extraordinary $1.25m and CFA volunteers raised nearly $1.9m.
On the CFA’s 80th anniversary — helping raise funds for the hospital for 74 years of them — it could proudly say it had raised $41m over the years.
The volunteer fireys were among the Victorians who opened their hearts and wallets to give generously to the appeal.
The Good Friday Appeal house auction added $1m to donations as the tally hit more than $20,235,880 by 10pm.
Hundreds of smiling faces, from parents and kids alike, packed the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to kickstart the appeal on Friday morning.
Tin-rattlers, families and volunteers — brandishing their distinctive purple attire — flooded the halls of the Convention Centre throughout the morning with plenty of attractions and events to take part in.
Now in its 94th year, the GFA has proved itself once again as a special event on the calendar for all Victorians.
Very special care at a very special place
A teary and emotional Premier Jacinta Allan said it was an especially special Good Friday Appeal as she reflected on her own personal connection with the event and the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“My family is like so many other Victorian families where we’ve received that very, very special care at the Royal Children’s Hospital where our daughter spent her very first Easter,” Ms Allan said.
She said her daughter was in the RCH Butterfly Ward for the first 12 weeks of her life, where she would later make many more repeat visits.
“I’m very pleased to say she’s a happy, healthy, smart, active and audacious 13-year-old, but back then it was incredibly tough and incredibly challenging,” she added.
Ms Allan said she, like all Victorians who go through the hospital, received very special care at what is a very special place.
She implored Victorians to spend wherever dollar they could to continue to “change lives” by supporting the appeal.
“Every dollar has that magical potential to save lives by supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital. I know it because I’ve seen my daughter’s life being saved by the work of the Royal Children’s Hospital …” an emotional Ms Allan was heard choking up.
As media heard from GFA chairman Penny Fowler, Ms Allan was seen wiping away tears following her announcement that the state government had committed $1m to the GFA this year.
Mrs Fowler said it meant a lot to the GFA to receive the support from the state government, adding how exciting it was to now assist 41 regional health services as part of the appeal.
“We are giving $3m of funds we are raising this year out to regional health services which is so important: it expands our reach,” she said.
She thanked those in the community rattling tins, hosting bake sales and giving what they can to help support the appeal for your ongoing support.
“We are really so grateful, we are grateful to all Victorian communities,” she said.
“Yes, 94 years is a long time we’ve been doing this. The first Good Friday Appeal raised £427 in 1931 and this year we are hoping to raise as much as we can.”
For those enjoying the festivities around the Convention Centre, caped crusaders and famous faces from a galaxy far far away were spotted walking the halls, catching awe struck looks from kids walking by.
The Teddy Bear Hospital drew the largest crowd early as families lined the foyer with prams and eager children beaming with excitement.
The centre was filled with colour and music throughout the morning; the smell of lattes and cappuccinos ever present.
From putt putt golf, to classic cars, and even the odd bouncy castle, kids were out enjoying the wide array of activities on offer throughout the morning.
One young boy was seen living out his dream of becoming a firefighter, jumping in the cab of a CFA vehicle with his dad Jonathon Clark, 35.
“He loved it, he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up so it’s been a highlight for him,” Mr Clark said.
Having been away most years over Easter, he said it was a special day to finally come out and enjoy the event with his kids, while also a supporting a good cause.
Mr Clark said while thankfully he had never had to visit the RCH much, it was a good feeling being able to contribute to the appeal and help support the hospital.
As the sun beamed down on event-goers just after midday, families sought out quiet spots in the shade or sat on the floor of the Convention Centre for some lunch.
All the while, Box Hill Police station commander Ron Sinclair, 65, rattled his tin like he has done for the past 17 years as part of a Victoria Police initiative with the GFA.
“We’ve been running a sausage sizzle way back to the Telstra Dome days,” Mr Sinclair said.
Brandishing police tape around his waist, collecting donations as he spoke, Mr Sinclair marvelled at the increase in support for the GFA over the years.
“The size of the event has changed: the first one we did was literally on the concourse outside of what was then the Telstra Dome … it’s just built exponentially every year,” he said.
“But the thing that stays the same is the vibe, is the people, is seeing how generous people are for such a good cause.
“That’s probably one of the reasons that we stick with this, and why our members come out to the Good Friday Appeal is because working in the police force, you sometimes don’t see the best of people.”
Prime Minister thanks volunteers
Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to support the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
The Prime Minister said many Australian families owe so much to the dedicated staff at hospital.
“I’d like to thank all of the volunteers and encourage all Australians to get behind this year’s appeal,” Mr Albanese said.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will visit the appeal and promote a 2023 commitment that will see $2m in federal funding flow to the hospital this year for research, equipment, patient and family programs.
Mr Marles said the appeal was an “incredible cause” and special event for families across Victoria.
“Every year, we see the generosity of Victorians on display in support of The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne – and we are seeing that again this year,” he said.
Labor has not matched an election commitment made by the Coalition this week to keep the hospital’s Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Service (CPRS) open, after it was quietly disbanded in February after its $5.9m federal funding grant ended in June last year.
A government spokesperson said the Victorian health department had advised that “all surgeries at the CPRS within the RCH Melbourne will continue with the same high standard of clinical care, without any impacts to their service”.
“The Commonwealth will continue to contribute to the costs of public colorectal services for children at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne via the National Health Reform Agreement,” a spokesperson said.
The phone call that saved baby Skye’s life
Skye has received the ultimate gift: a liver transplant operation that saved her life.
“We feel so blessed, fortunate and grateful,” Skye’s mother, Stephanie, said. “She has been so resilient and tackled everything with happiness and a smile.”
Skye, 11 months old, was born with biliary atresia, a rare liver condition that affects the bile ducts. She underwent an operation aimed to restore bile flow, but the surgery did not work.
“Skye had progressive scarring of her liver. It was clear she was going to need a liver transplant within the first year of life,” her clinician, Dr Liz Bannister, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, said.
Her parents, Martin and Stephanie, said their daughter took medication, and did ultrasounds and blood tests at the RCH, while on a waitlist for a liver transplant.
“We didn’t sleep for the first month,” Martin said. “You’re looking at your phone all the time. You get call, and think it’s the liver. It was definitely tiring. By the second month, we put our shoulders down, and the third month, we got the call.”
They knew, however, that phone conversation, and the gift that came with it, meant tragedy for another family.
“It’s heartbreaking to know she needed a liver … and was given a gift,” Stephanie said. “But it’s hard because somebody else lost their lives to give Skye that gift. We’re eternally grateful, but we feel a lot of sadness for the other family.”
Martin agrees. “It was one of the hardest things,” he said. “When we found out we were getting a full liver, we knew it was devastating for another family. We were blessed.”
Dr Bannister added: “We’re grateful to the donor and family for giving Skye an opportunity to thrive.”
Stephanie said Skye met every challenge like a champion. “She never complained. I think we’ve got a lot to learn from her. It also taught us the importance of organ donation, because no-one thinks about it until they’re put in that situation.”
Dr Bannister said Skye is progressing well.
Meanwhile, Skye, who has twin siblings, aged three-and-a-half, is giving back to hospital that saved her.
Skye’s online fundraiser page — fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/skyesBAjourney/gfa — has exceeded its $5000 target, and raked in more than $14,000.
“She’s touched a lot of little lines in a short amount of time,” Stephanie said. ”It’s nice to be able to give back a tiny bit to the RCH.
RCH helps Leo manage rare skin condition
Lion-hearted Leo is determined to be comfortable in his own skin.
Leo, 3, has a rare genetic condition called Netherton syndrome, which causes inflamed, red, scaly skin.
“His skin doesn’t work properly,” Leo’s mother, Rhiannon said. “All of the things affiliated with his skin, like maintaining his body temperature, protecting him against infection, and hydration, are severely affected.”
Dr Julian Kelly, a pediatrician at the Royal Children’s Hospital, and Leo’s clinician, said the brave boy first presented to the RCH with “life-threatening sepsis,” adding: “He was as sick as you can get.”
Dr Kelly said teams at the RCH intensive care unit saved Leo’s life. “They had a very challenging situation,” he said. “Leo is the kind of patient that, if you didn’t have a tertiary hospital like the RCH, he wouldn’t be with us.”
Tests confirmed Leo had Netherton syndrome.
“It’s a rare skin disorder, and there are only 150 documented cases in medical literature,” Dr Kelly said.
“Most people forget that skin is our primary immune defence mechanism. It’s that primary way in which we stop getting life threatening infections.
“Leo’s condition is one where he has massive amounts of inflammation, skin turnover and leakage. He’s at the severe end of the spectrum. He has endured irritated and inflamed skin ever since he was born.”
Leo’s treatment includes two weekly injections of an agent that puts “immune products back into his system,” and another biologic agent that “targets his inflammatory pathway.”
But the hard work, relatively speaking, happens at home.
Rhiannon has to bathe Leo, and apply skin-soothing creams several times a day.
“Initially, we gave him four or five baths a day, which take between an hour or two hours each,” she said.
“Now we’re down to three, which is six hours a day of bathing, and creams on top.
“We apply creams eight times a day; three times for the whole body, head to toe; then topping up face and hands, anything that’s exposed – all day
“It’s a big impact for everyone, but because he’s had this his whole life, he doesn’t know any differently. He doesn’t yet recognise that other kids aren’t getting their face creamed all the time.
“Occasionally, he’ll see kids at the park getting their sunscreen put on, and he’ll say, ‘Mum, look, they’re getting cream, too,” Rhiannon said. “It’s so beautiful.”
They also have to be hyper aware of potential dangers in parks and playgrounds.
“It’s the fragility of his skin,” Rhiannon said. “He went for a run up the hill the other day, and fell over really lightly, and took the skin off his knee. Blades of grass cut him. Bark chips at a playground can cut him, too. You think, ‘He’ll be all right.’ But he gets up and he’s covered in blood.”
She is thankful Leo heals quickly.
Dr Kelly said Leo’s family, especially Rhiannon, were selfless and compassionate with Leo’s care.
“I’ve been a doctor for 30-something years, and I don’t think I’ve seen a family that’s been so adept at adapting to a very difficult situation, remaining sane, and also being so charitable,” he said.
“They do the most amazing job … in terms of the amount of skin care they have to do, and medication administration. It’s a torrid process they have to go through, and they do it remarkably well.”
Dr Kelly said Leo was making good progress.
“He’s got a life long condition, but it tends to improve as you get older. The reasons for that are unclear,” Dr Kelly said. “But we’ve got him stable, and developing, and growing. I’ll look after him until he’s 18 and finished school. Hopefully, by then, his skin will be less of a problem.”
Rhiannon said she and her family were grateful for Leo’s care at the RCH. They lived at the hospital for a year during the most difficult days of Leo’s health journey.
“The RCH has showed us so much love and compassion,” Rhiannon said. “After Leo was discharged, and we returned to the real world, we realised the real world isn’t as magical as the RCH.
“(At the RCH), we felt normal and accepted, and no-one looked at him twice. It was, ‘Leo is Leo, and he’s beautiful.’ Now we’re really feeling the impact of what the real world is. Some people judge and make comments. The most common thing is, ‘Why are you so sunburnt,’ or ‘What happened to your face?’
“We’ve always known that was going to happen,” Rhiannon says, with sadness in her voice. “But it’s hard, and it’s hard to explain it to a 3-year-old who now understands. Now he can look at me and ask, ‘Mum, what did happen to my face?’
“That’s something we’re going to build resilience around because this is forever. I guess the key to Leo is that he embraces it, and he knows he’s beautiful no matter what.”
Originally published as Victorians give generously as 2025 Good Friday Appeal donations flow in
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