GIVING BACK:
Telangatuk East’s Rees family, from left, Joel, Luke, Karen, Alex and Mia, and their dog Joebe, is passionate about supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Joel spent 10 weeks in the Melbourne hospital after suffering a stroke at three years of age. For the past decade, Luke and Karen have co-ordinated fundraising efforts, helping collect more than $121,000 for life-saving care and research to help the state’s sickest children.
Telangatuk East’s Karen Rees believes no amount of money will ever be enough to repay the Royal Children’s Hospital for saving her son’s life. It has not stopped her from trying. For the past decade, Mrs Rees and her husband Luke have co-ordinated the Telangatuk East Good Friday Appeal, raising money towards life-saving care for the state’s sickest children.
The couple started fundraising for the appeal to give back to the Melbourne hospital after their eldest son, Joel, suffered a stroke in December 2008, aged three.
For a district with a population fewer than 100, Telangatuk East clearly punches above its weight on Good Friday.
Mrs Rees said people had donated $121,427 under the community’s banner since 2010.
“To be honest, I am shocked by the total,” she said.
“In 2009, the community raised $1200 and then we requested Telangatuk East be under its own banner, rather than being included in Harrow’s total,” she said.
“I thought if people could see where their donations were going they could have a sense of pride in it.”
This year, the community raised $13,360, including $10,485 through a ‘Virtual Tin Shake’, an online fundraising channel in light of coronavirus social-distancing measures.
It was the fourth-highest tally recorded for the tin shake throughout Victoria.
“I thought it was amazing,” Mrs Rees said.
“Even though I appreciate the total, I thought given the circumstances, even half that amount would be amazing.
“I know it’s been a tough time for a lot of people, with many losing their jobs.”
Mrs Rees said the result showed people’s strong affiliation with the hospital.
“I think the Good Friday Appeal is one of those charities everybody is happy to donate to,” she said.
“If they haven’t needed the hospital themselves, or know someone who has, then they are happy they haven’t needed it.
“So many people locally have needed the hospital and will continue to, because accidents and illnesses happen.”
The Rees family usually runs a golf day prior to the appeal to kick-start fundraising.
Mrs Rees said this year’s event was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions, although sponsors were content to donate regardless.
“That got us off to a good start,” she said.
“I also have a Facebook page to let people know what is going on, so I was able to let them know about the virtual tin shake.
“I also send out emails reminding people to donate.
“The links and emails I sent regarding the virtual tin were shared by family, friends and others. It’s a big reason this year’s appeal has gone so well, considering the circumstances.”
Mrs Rees said people also made donations totalling $2875 into a Telangatuk East Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal bank account.
Mrs Rees usually spends Good Fri- day knocking on doors and rattling tins.
“We usually travel a couple of hundred kilometres on the day,” she said.
“People are expecting us, they are used to us coming. We usually go along the river and other people in the community always go to Rocklands, where there are lots of people camping.
“People are so generous, they always clean out the coins in their console or glove box, which adds up.
“Not being able to do that made a big difference to the appeal.
“I think some people were probably busy and forgot, without seeing the telethon or tin rattlers around town.”
Good Friday is always an important one on the Rees’ family calendar.
“I think I was even more emotional than normal this year, because I am usually busy collecting all day,” Mrs Rees said. The day is also one of reflection. Joel spent 10 weeks in the Royal Children’s Hospital, learning to walk and talk again after suffering a stroke.
“For that 10 weeks, the hospital was home to us,” Mrs Rees said.
“In the following year we would have blocks of therapy and we were back again.
“When you first arrive at the hospital you think you’re coping well and then there comes a time when you realise you didn’t know that you needed something.
“They have a whole roster of staff there to help you – a team of people to help you get through your experience.
“They don’t just care for the patients, but for the whole family.
“We still have an association with the hospital. Joel has an appointment in a couple of weeks, which we will now do virtually.”
Mrs Rees said although Joel would never be ‘fully recovered’, he was doing well. “Joel is fantastic,” she said. “He will always have some weakness down his left side, but as far as doing anything goes, he can still do everything a 15-year-old wants to do.
“He loves his sport and he’s very passionate about farming.
“There is no amount of money that could repay the hospital for what they have done for us.
“We are forever indebted to them, not only for what they did for Joel, but for our whole family.”
Friday’s appeal raised $18.2-million, after Premier Daniel Andrews announced the State Government would make up the shortfall between this year’s tally and last year’s total of $18-million.
People throughout the Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians supported the virtual tin shake. Totals include: Telangatuk East $10,649, Warracknabeal $6304, Ararat $5131, Horsham $4573, Rupanyup $3505, Stawell $2793, Kaniva $1841, Donald $1485, St Arnaud $1257, Murtoa $788, Rainbow $723, Dimboola $685, Harrow $536, Nhill $272, Jeparit $258, Marnoo $164, Willaura $120, Hopetoun $37, and Goroke $11.
People can continue to donate online at donation.goodfridayappeal.com.au.