General News
1 December, 2025
Carnival's champion donations lift care
THE Loddon’s oldest community event has been applauded for more than 150 years of support for health services in the region.
Praise came from Inglewood and Districts Health Service chief executive officer Dallas Coghill when Rheola Charity Carnival last week made its latest donation to the hospital and aged care home.
Carnival president Matt Catto presented a cheque for $10,776 to Mr Coghill that will go towards purchasing equipment for IDHS.
Mr Coghill said: “Every year, the Rheola Charity Carnival is generous in its support of IDHS, the community and the people who live in our district.
“It’s probably one of the longest and greatest partnerships between a community group and a hospital anywhere in Victoria and certainly one that IDHS regards as important to strong links with the community,” Mr Coghill said.
Inglewood and Dunolly campus of Maryborough District Health receive a share of profits made from the Easter Monday carnival with donations also made to the Rheola Hall and Rheola recreation reserve committees.
Mr Catto said that since the first carnival in 1871, supporting health services in the region had been an important part of fundraising on the day.
“The spirit of the Rheola community shines through every year,” he said.
“Volunteers coming together to celebrate our community and raising funds for the Inglewood and Dunolly hospitals and helping make a difference.”
Mr Coghill said one of the recent purchases possible through the charity carnival donations was a patient monitoring unit in the hospital’s upgraded emergency and acute care section.
Meanwhile, Mr Catto said planning for the 2026 charity carnival was well underway.
“We are meeting regularly to ensure another smooth running of the carnival that attracts up to 4000 people to Rheola each Easter Monday,” he said.
“The committee is super enthusiastic in keeping alive the great country traditions that set Rheola Charity Carnival apart from other events on the calendar across rural and regional Victoria.
“People love the atmosphere and the activities - it’s a way of life for so many to keep returning to Rheola each Easter Monday, families and friends back together for at least one day a year.
“The fun and festivities are central to the day’s success over more than 150 years, knowing the day also helps IDHS continue its amazing care for people in the community.
“There’s been hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for Inglewood, and also Dunolly, hospitals. The current committee is absolutely committed to continuing that support with the help of people attending the charity carnival.”
Mr Catto said the committee always welcomed new volunteers to assist in running the day.
“It’s great to be part of the community and help the community at the same time,” he said.