Heathcote digs deep for the kids

HEATHCOTE’S tally for this year’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal reached twelve thousand, eight hundred dollars.

Lions Club member and local appeal co-ordinator Greg Speirs said the town’s contribution now totalled $379,132 over 51 years.

The fundraising effort was one of the club’s first projects in 1972.

“I think that’s just an amazing amount for a small town to have raised over the past 50 plus years,” he said.

This year Heathcote Fire Brigade collected more than $5600, the Margaret Connally Estate donated just less than $2200, Heathcote Lions $2000, a raffle raised $610, and door-to-door tin rattlers brought in the rest.

“I’d like to thank all those who generously donated to the appeal,” Mr Speirs said.

“I’d also like to the following individual collectors: Leanne and Shaylee Jowett, Alison Phillips and Zoe Osicka, Michelle, Blake and James Barri, and Lions members Lorraine Speirs, Daryl Wallace and David Leach.”

Mr Speirs has been involved with the appeal for over 40 years and Heathcote’s co-ordinator for the past 36 years.

This is his last year in the role and discussions are currently underway with another Heathcote community organisation to take on the role in the future.

Mr Speirs said the Lions Club no longer had the resources to run the appeal and it was time to hand over the reins.