Seymour Telegraph

A heart of gold

- By Bianca Hall

At 82 years old, Mick Sanderson is a community champion.

He has been a part of the Country Fire Authority for 66 years and a volunteer for the Royal Children’s Hospital since 1960.

Since 2011, Mick has been the Seymour area manager for the Good Friday Appeal. This year he co-ordinated the collection of $20,000.

Good Friday Appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan has been travelling the countrysid­e to say thank you to people like Mick who have contribute­d to another year’s appeal. This year, a record-breaking $22,328,154 was raised.

Ms Cowan said it was a beautiful story of people in the community doing good things for others.

“The fact that Mick is still doing it, giving back to others — he’s just a good person, a really good person,” she said.

“It’s incredible to see, especially when things have been so tough.”

Mick said the most rewarding aspect of his extensive community volunteer work was the opportunit­y to give back.

Mick’s ‘right-hand man’ is his daughter, Chris Lewis. Like her father, Chris has been a member of the CFA for the past 30 years. She has assisted Mick in the Good Friday Appeal for the past 10 years, since her daughter stayed at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Chris’ daughter has now also joined the CFA and SES and all three generation­s volunteer for the Good Friday Appeal.

Ms Cowan and Mick agree that against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital needs the money now more than ever.

“It’s not been so bright the last few years. Since COVID we have been scratching the surface,” Mick said.

 ?? ?? The joy of giving: Mick Sanderson (second from right) celebrates another successful Good Friday Appeal with (from left) appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan, his daughter Chris Lewis and the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Bridget Robinson and Anna Wilson.
The joy of giving: Mick Sanderson (second from right) celebrates another successful Good Friday Appeal with (from left) appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan, his daughter Chris Lewis and the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Bridget Robinson and Anna Wilson.

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