Victorians donate millions

CHILDREN emptied their piggy banks, one baked 900 cupcakes and another collected bags of sheep poo to sell on a roadside stall.

Tin rattlers staked their claim on the same intersections where many have stood collecting coins for decades.

Country towns were inventive with egg hunts, boot camps and rounds of golf to support one of their own needing medical care far away from home.

All efforts big and small were made in the name of supporting our tiniest and most vulnerable patients.

Victorians again proved generous in their support of the Good Friday Appeal, with the 88th appeal raising more than $10 million by 10pm.

Regional towns that led the charge included Wangaratta, which raised at least $66,000, Ballarat pulled in more than $45,000 and Dookie — with a population of 328 people — raised more than $34,000.

Good Friday Appeal director Anne Randall said yesterday’s major fundraisers and telethon were the culmination of a year-long campaign.

“We have many groups selling raffle tickets in the pub on a Friday night for a meat tray. We’ve got shops and cafes all over Victoria that have our tins. We have lots of activities happening all year, which all generate funds but it all comes together on Good Friday though,” Ms Randall said.

The Henley and Villawood Properties No Reserve Auction sent $761,000 straight to the appeal following a bidding war between three families.

The Kick for the Kids between North Melbourne and Essendon at Marvel Stadium led the other headline fundraiser yesterday.

The tens of thousands of runners who pounded the pavement in the Herald Sun/ Transurban Run for the Kids helped raise $1.5 million.

Other big cheques arrived from Cadbury ($138,000), the RCH Auxiliaries ($1.424 million), Costco ($130,625) and Ritchies Supermarkets ($29,000), with $65,000 from Racing Victoria’s All-Star Mile.