Dig deep for annual appeal
Long-time fundraiser June Clissold has urged Wimmera residents and visitors to again dig deep on Good Friday for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.
Mrs Clissold has raised money for the hospital for decades and has been the appeal’s Horsham area manager for the past 10 years.
She said Wimmera people had always given generously to the appeal despite the many important causes and organisations in need of money.
The Horsham region raised more than $42,000 in 2017 and $873,000 since 1973.
“I don’t have a fundraising target for this year, we’ll take whatever we can get,” Mrs Clissold said.
“It’s such an important cause but I know there is a lot on and people only have so much to give.”
As always, Mrs Clissold has been busy in the lead-up to Easter, selling raffle tickets in Woolworths and Horsham Plaza.
The winner, who will take home a $150 Woolworths voucher, will be drawn tomorrow.
For the past 45 years, Mrs Clissold has knitted goods – from baby clothes to children’s jumpers, toys and cushions – to raise money for the appeal.
She has six knitters who also contribute and the items are sold by Royal Children’s Hospital Geelong auxiliary members.
Money from the Good Friday Appeal goes to equipment, research and education to support the work of Royal Children’s Hospital staff.
More than $327-million has been raised to benefit sick children since the appeal started in 1931.
Mrs Clissold said the hospital was close to the hearts of many Wimmera families, including her own.
“I have had four grandchildren attend the Royal Children’s Hospital, including three in the one family,” she said. Mrs Clissold will spend Friday at Horsham Fire Station in Hamilton Street, where she will oversee the counting.
She said members of Horsham, Vectis and Jung brigades would take to the streets of Horsham and district to collect donations. Volunteers will also rattle tins at Horsham traffic lights.
“There will be about 16 trucks out and about but if anyone misses them or would prefer to come to the station, we’ll be taking money there all day,” Mrs Clissold said.