Brigades come together for Good Friday Appeal

Four brigades in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley are together raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital, with 84-year-old Mick Sanderson leading the charge.

The Seymour District CFA Brigades are joining together for the Good Friday Appeal to raise much-needed funding for the Royal Children’s Hospital, with 84-year-old Mick Sanderson leading the charge.

Born and bred on a little farm in Tallarook, Mick, who spent time at RCH as an eight-year-old with a broken arm, has been involved in fundraising efforts for the RCH for more than 60 years.

“If you have a look at who (the RCH) has helped over the years, not even from just Australia but worldwide … I believe that we’ve got the greatest institute in the world here,” Mick said.

“We’ve probably got some of the best specialists, doctors and nursing staff that work well together, and they’re great with kids.”

Wayne Herring (left) has been involved in fundraising efforts with Mick (centre) for about 15 years, while Mick’s granddaughter Bridget Robinson (right) is involved with the Hilldene fire brigade. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The Seymour CFA Brigade is this year celebrating its 70th year being involved with the cause, and will be joined by brigades at Tallarook, Hilldene and Whitehead’s Creek in doorknocking efforts on Good Friday to raise funds.

“It’s called the Seymour District Good Friday Appeal, so I involve the district because they are a part of us,” Mick said.

“We got some very good donations last year (from around Seymour), so instead of them coming to us with donations, we thought, let’s just go to them.”

After previously raising about $25,000 every year, the pandemic proved a hurdle for the local fundraising effort, and Mick said he’d love to see more of the public coming on board to help raise as much as they could.

“I’m no (spring) chicken anymore … if we had more people come out and jump in to help us, it would make it a lot easier,” he said.

In 2024 the Good Friday Appeal will allocate money to five regional Victorian centres, with Barwon Health, Grampians Health, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Latrobe Regional Health all to receive funding.