General News
29 April, 2025
Tireless work raises large sum for Good Friday Appeal
The Ararat region continues to support the Royal Children’s Hospital in a big way with over $140,000 raised for the annual Good Friday Appeal.
The Ararat region continues to support the Royal Children’s Hospital in a big way with over $140,000 raised for the annual Good Friday Appeal.
Across Ararat, communities worked tirelessly to raise money for the hospital, with local residents opening their hearts and their pockets.
In Ararat, $44,466 was raised through a variety of activities including the annual town collection, variety concert, raffles and collections at the traffic lights.
The Willaura community continued its traditional Good Friday Fish and Chip lunch, with district residents donating $16,078.
The Streatham, Mininera and Westmere communities while small in population were big on generousity, with $18,471 raised.
Pomonal’s Good Friday Appeal tally was also substantial, largely due to an annual car show held in the town.
Jim and Karen Leithhead open their ‘world-class’ private museum to the public each Good Friday allowing the public to view Australia’s best collection of classic Lincoln’s.
Mr Leithhead’s collection features 35 Lincoln cars, from 1922 to 2003.
The Royal Children’s. Hospital Appeal is close to Mr Leithhead’s heart after his young sister Suzy died of leukaemia before her fourth birthday.
The couples generous Good Friday gesture was a big contributor to Pomonal’s 2025 total of $61,018.
Ararat’s Good Friday Appeal Director, Daniel Ramsdell, said he was delighted with the response to this year’s fundraiser.
“We had a lot of help from the community, local kids and adults at the traffic lights. The traffic lights were really successful where we raised about $8,000 alone,” he said.
“We hit our target of 30 which was good. People were really generous this year which was nice.”
“A lot of volunteers help make this happen as well as Rotary, Bakers Delight, Christians Bus Lines, JR Hire and Chalambar Golf Club,” Mr Ramsdell said.
This year’s total around Ararat Rural City was $140,033 which is more than $10 for every man, woman and child living in the municipality.