General News
4 June, 2025
Decades of dedication
WHEN it comes to the annual Good Friday Appeal in Stawell, one name has become synonymous with the town’s enduring fundraising spirit.
For more than 60 years, the Cray family has championed the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, with Noel Cray continuing the legacy that began with his father.
“It was on the back of dad. In the beginning, he must have thought something about the Children's Hospital in Adelaide, and then he sort of got interested in it. I never really asked him why,” said Noel.
Noel remembers following his father door to door with a tin in hand, collecting donations as a child.
By the age of 14, he and his sister were recognised with certificates from the Royal Children’s Hospital for their contributions.
“As kids, we’d jump around the collection tins. If you got three or four pounds or something, you were really king then, because that’s the way it was. Dad must have done more than what probably I did.”
In the 1970s, the Stawell Fire Brigade took over running the Appeal locally.
The Cray family further contributed by donating the Royal Children’s Hospital Perpetual Shield for clubs and hotels to compete in fundraising efforts.
“The first year the shield was out there, we had seven hotels in town. I think we’ve got three now,” Noel noted.
This year alone, Stawell raised $53,181, with $48,000 coming from street collections.
“It was always a competition between Stawell and Ararat.”
Noel estimates that over the last 53 years, the town’s total contributions are close to $1 million.
“It’d be close. If it’s not, it’s only a few dollars short,” he said.
Noel also fondly remembers his time collecting with the brigade and how even the smallest efforts give the best outcomes.
“We were down in Stawell West. I was lagging behind because the kids were full of beans, and this lady came out and said ‘I’ve got some money for you’. She burst into tears and told me her granddaughter was in the Children’s Hospital, and she’s here today because of them. It really got to me. I’ll never forget that.”
Reflecting on his own experience as a parent, Noel was thankful he never needed the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“I’ve got a son and a daughter. It was more important then because, as you know, nobody knows what’s around the corner with your kids. Touchwood, we got through unscathed,” he said.
Now with grandchildren and extended family Noel understands the importance of ensuring that lifesaving facilities like the Royal Children’s are kept funded and updated.
“My granddaughter’s coming up for three. So, it’s not only my granddaughter, it’s my sister’s, it’s my nephews and nieces. You just want the best for everybody. If you need it, you know it’s there.”
While Noel no longer shakes the tins or rides the trucks, he continues to coordinate much of the behind-the-scenes work.
“I go around town and distribute [collection tins] to the shops and businesses,” he said, making sure every dollar makes it to where its needed most.
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