Rory’s Rambles: Good Friday Appeal success

EVERY parent knows the anxiety associated with having sick kids, and even more so when they need hospital care.

Many parents within Villawood’s broad community of people across Geelong and Melbourne have at some time or another been involved with the wonderful institution that is the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Our daughter went there when she was three years old, and since then numerous Villawood staff have also had young kids at the Royal Children’s. They’ve all really seen the need and the value of this hospital.

A lot our staff have also seen first-hand the sense of giving and satisfaction that people get from contributing to the hospital’s annual Good Friday Appeal.

For the past decade, Villawood has been involved in the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Charity Home Auction. Villawood donates a block of land, with a home built by Henley Homes, to be auctioned with all proceeds from the sale donated to hospital.

Last year, the auction was staged at Geelong, with a stunning four-bedroom family home by Henley in our Armstrong community attracting a fantastic $627,500.

This year, we were fortunate enough to raise a record-breaking $860,000, with every cent going to the hospital, with a five-bedroom home in Villawood’s Waratah estate in Mickleham.

The winning bidder beat out more than 30 other interested parties. He wasn’t initially looking to buy but was spurred on by his two young kids, who fell in love with the house and its big back yard.

The auction was the highlight of a memorable day out for families, as well as Villawood and Henley staff, who enjoyed a street party with live entertainment, Toby the T-Rex and a petting zoo.

The Good Friday Appeal Charity Home Auction is Villawood’s largest single philanthopic effort among more than 90 community groups and initiatives we support.

This year’s auction result, combined with funds raised by the Henley/Villawood team at this year’s Chain Reaction bike race in New Zealand – and the recent 3AW Neil’s Wheel initiative, where I was locked in the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel until we raised $30,000 for my escape – brought the funds raised for the Good Friday Appeal to more than $1 million.

That’s a great result for our communities by our communities. And, most importantly, it’s a great result for our kids. A great thank-you to everyone who helped.