General News
22 March, 2024
Appeal legend recruits helper
ROYAL Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal local co-ordinator Joe Watts has enlisted an equally passionate offsider to help plan Inglewood’s fundraising efforts this year. Joe has notched up more than half a century collecting for the appeal...
ROYAL Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal local co-ordinator Joe Watts has enlisted an equally passionate offsider to help plan Inglewood’s fundraising efforts this year.
Joe has notched up more than half a century collecting for the appeal, many spent as the lynchpin of Inglewood Fire Brigade efforts.
But a health scare late last year saw Joe ask fellow brigade member Elissa Wilson to share the workload.
“Joe’s a legend and when he asked, I couldn’t say no,” said Elissa.
The pair have already been out selling raffle tickets and are gearing up for another instalment of fundraising with the brigade’s Easter egg basket raffle.
Joe, who officially joined Inglewood brigade in 1972, was originally out driving the streets with teams of volunteers until Nigel Elston retired from co-ordinating the local effort and tapped Joe on the shoulder.
“There are many brigades active across Victoria supporting
the Royal Children’s Hospital appeal,” Joe said. “It’s a good cause and everyone wants to support it.”
His words are echoed by Elissa who says volunteers will be out on the streets collecting on Good Friday from 9am.
The pair said youngsters were
always among the first to put their hands up and join brigade members.
Joe and Elissa said the community had already been generous in their support of the raffles and and were sure the tins would be full again on Good Friday.
“The appeal is a special time for everyone in the community to help the Royal Children’s Hospital,” they said.
This year’s appeal will also raise funds for major regional hospitals, including Bendigo, in a first for the Good Friday Appeal that started in 1931.