THIS year\u2019s Royal Children Hospital Good Friday Appeal donation drive will once again by lead by the Bendigo branch of Uncle Bobs Club.<\/p>\n
Convener John Traill said he is pleased to see the Bendigo Easter Fair back to its best and hopes it will contribute to a rise in donations but admitted they could use some more volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are struggling a bit for volunteer numbers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased to have the Easter Fair back, we are hoping that this year there will be more people around and by default we can have a few more donations made.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year wasn\u2019t a record year by any stretch. Our figure was down a bit, but we still managed to raise over $38,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
Businesses, hotels and bakeries across town have been collecting donations already, and Mr Traill said Uncle Bobs Club is well supported in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get supported by a lot of groups within the community,\u201d he said. \u201cHistorically across the state fire brigades are very much involved in supporting the appeal and the local brigades here are no exception.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers from local CFAs will be assisting with street collections on Friday, and while there isn\u2019t a suitable intersection for collection in Huntly, brigade members will have their truck and tins ready at Viewpoint Estate.<\/p>\n
In Bendigo, over $1 million has been raised for the Good Friday Appeal since the Uncle Bobs Club first helped out in 1976, with the money supporting research, equipment, technology, education and family centred care programs at the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n