This year also marks Henley\u2019s 44th<\/sup> home for The\u00a0Good Friday Appeal and is also Villawood’s largest philanthropic effort, among more than 90 smaller community groups and initiatives the developer supports.<\/p>\n Henley Properties Group chief executive officer Antony Blackshaw said Henley and all their trades and suppliers were proud the 2023 GFA House had contributed to raising more than $19 million since Henley started auctioning homes for GFA in 1993.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire Henley team is over the moon by the continued generosity of our suppliers and tradespeople, who, year after year, donate their time to help create a stunning home to be auctioned off on Good Friday for the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are thrilled to know that all of our hard work in fundraising contributes to such a meaningful cause and it is an honour to be part of it.<\/p>\n \u201cWith each passing year, this auction continues to be such significant event and with the community embracing it with such enthusiasm and support.\u00a0 What a tremendous result once again.\u201d<\/p>\n Villawood Properties chief executive officer Alan Miller said the auction result was great for everyone involved.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great privilege to host a live auction like this and achieve such a fantastic result. The crowd was on board with us everyone understands and appreciates the great effort that\u2019s gone into building the house.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been an exciting event and really highlighted what the Good Friday Appeal is all about. There\u2019s the money raised, which goes to a really important cause, but there\u2019s also a tremendous amount of goodwill we\u2019ve seen in the months of preparation leading up to the appeal and today too of course with so many people rattling tins for the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n In Torquay, the excellent GFA fundraising efforts continued, with\u00a0Torquay Lions and their many local helpers raised $41,500 for the GFA.<\/p>\n The local appeal more than tripled last year\u2019s record of $13,000.<\/p>\n \u201cWe not only achieved our target, which initially was $20,000, but we finished the day with $41,500 for this year\u2019s appeal,\u201d CFA regional co-ordinator and Torquay Lions member Peter McMahon said.<\/p>\n He said community generosity, small projects by children, a Lions bowls day and many other donations had led to the new record.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than tripling last year\u2019s figure almost leaves me speechless.<\/p>\n \u201cVolunteer highway collectors from Deakin University, Torquay Lions Club, with help from Grovedale Fire Brigade and various other volunteers, all helped us achieve the $41,500.<\/p>\n \u201cI thank all who supported the appeal so generously.\u201d<\/p>\n According to McMahon, the Good Friday Appeal resonates with many local families who have had some contact or contacts with the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital over the years.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost every family has been touched as the Children\u2019s Hospital has helped so many youngsters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said he expected a few more donations would be forthcoming to add to Torquay\u2019s figure.<\/p>\n \u2018The Lions Club, which donated $11,000 raised at their Billy Ryan charity bowls day, promised a few more hundred dollars would be directed to the Appeal from money raised at a small online auction for a gymnasium membership voucher.\u201d<\/p>\n The final total figure raised for this year’s GFA will be announced later tonight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" JUST over $1 million will go to improving the health prospects of young patients at The Royal Children\u2019s Hospital after the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) home was sold under the auctioneer\u2019s hammer today (Friday, April 7) at Lara. Geelong’s Ali Bandari is the proud new owner of a fully furnished Electra 35 Henley home at […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/04\/Torquay-GFA.png\")