Geelong region raises $580k+ for record setting Good Friday Appeal
The Geelong region contributed more than $580,000 to a record setting Good Friday Appeal – but there was one small town that set the pace. SEE THE LOCAL TALLIES
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Bellarine hamlet with less than 5000 people has punched above its weight to become one of the biggest contributors to this year’s Good Friday Appeal.
The Barwon Heads community raised more than $91,000 across Friday’s fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital – the 10th largest contribution from all of regional Victoria.
The main fundraiser in Barwon Heads was the Tin Shed which hosted a family day on Friday.
Tin Shed president Jamie McDonald said the organisation made the day “a big celebration for the community” with face painting and two different auctions where people “bid like crazy”.
Just about every business they approached pitched in, and about 150 people attended the event.
There was a “feel of philanthropy” in Barwon Heads, as the event featured prizes including art, wine, car detailing packages, holidays and even a swim with the dolphins adventure.
Barwon Heads’ favourite son, cyclist Cadel Evans, even pitched in with some memorabilia, including posters and newspapers about his Tour de France triumph.
“Everyone’s so generous... every sort of business in the area is approached and nearly all of them contribute,” Dr McDonald said.
The 2025 Good Friday Appeal saw Victorians generously donate a record $23.8m towards the Royal Children’s Hospital, surpassing last year’s tally by more than $400,000.
Regional Victorians raised just over $5.4m for the appeal, with the broader Geelong and Surf Coast region contributing more than $580,000 to help the state’s sickest kids.
Good Friday Appeal chair Penny Fowler said the generosity of regional Victorians was “truly inspiring”.
“From small towns with big hearts, to major regional centres, communities have united to make a huge difference for sick children and their families,” Ms Fowler said.
The Geelong community raised the fourth most of the regions with $202,532.41, behind Ballarat ($247,281.88), Albury/Wodonga ($237,525.77) and Devenish Dookie and District ($235,662.36).
The auction of a Villawood home in Mount Duneed also raised $1,150,500, with nurse Maddison Luebker casting the winning bid.
Ms Luebker told News Corp the win “must have meant to be” and described the property, built by Henley Homes, as “the dream home”.
Elsewhere in the region, Torquay raised $71,958, while Little River raised $43,247, Drysdale $42,073, Ocean Grove $34,227 and Inverleigh $27,943.
Last year, Geelong raised $234,097 to top the regional list, while Barwon Heads raised $63,948, the 16th most by a regional community.
Torquay and Little River both outperformed last year, while Drysdale previously raised $55,276, Ocean Grove $51,633, Inverleigh $42,025 and Bannockburn $24,768 in 2024.
Dozens of regional health services across the state will receive a $3m investment from the funds raised by the appeal.
It is the second year regional services will benefit from the fundraiser, with $2.5m invested in 2024.
Rebecca Cowan, the appeal’s executive director, said the funding would allow regional families to “access world-class healthcare without needing to travel far from their homes”.
Since it began in 1931, the Good Friday Appeal has raised over $492m.
Originally published as Geelong region raises $580k+ for record setting Good Friday Appeal
Leopold Mum’s plea to bring missing children home
A distressed Leopold mum is celebrating her 16-year-old’s return after five days missing, as two youths, last seen in Lara, remain missing after more than a week.
‘My legacy’: Community unites for Anzac parade, dawn services
The annual march down Malop St brought old friends and families together, while earlier this morning a crowd of 10,000 paid their respects in Torquay. SEE THE PHOTOS.