Ararat and district collectors on the day, combined with  schools and other organisations holding their own fundraisers and businesses displaying donation boxes throughout the year, raised a record amount this year.

The newly updated total is $59,394.60, which is at least a few thousand dollars higher than reported totals for every other region in the Grampians and Wimmera regions, including larger cities like Horsham.

Ararat and district Good Friday Appeal co-ordinator Graeme Cooper thanked the Ararat Hotel team for their “tremendous fundraising effort”.

“I congratulate them for winning the Royal Children’s Hospital Ararat Good Friday Appeal Perpetual Shield for a second year in a row after raising a massive $10,451.10,” he said.

“Thank you to the Ararat Hotel, Mal Calvert and Graham Jones for organising and conducting weekly fundraising for this terrific cause.

“I want to acknowledge the great efforts of all the patrons of the hotel, as this would not have been possible if it wasn’t for their support.”

Mr Jones, an Ararat Hotel patron, said the pub’s team had set themselves a challenge of raising more than $10,000 in response to a lot of suggestions about how they could improve their methods.

“We just run raffles because we’re lazy,” Mr Jones joked.

Mr Jones thanked IGA for supplying hampers that sold a substantial amount of tickets.

During a record-breaking year for the appeal to help the Royal Children’s Hospital, Ararat Hotel has set a record of its own.

“This is the most money ever raised in Ararat by any pub or club for the Good Friday Appeal,” Mr Cooper said.

“There Ararat Hotel were the clear winners this year with second place going to the Ararat RSL for raising $1911.15 and a very close third place goes to the Chalambar Gold Club, raising 669.55.”

Mr Cooper also thanked Ararat West Primary School, which raised $966.

The school held non-uniform days, a donation drive and put on barbecues to raise the money.

Ararat and district schools in total raised $1566.90.