The Devenish, Dookie & District Good Friday Appeal has done it again, raising more than $200,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Regional and rural Victoria contributed $5,428,009 to the record-breaking fundraising total of $23,822,793 for the 2025 Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
The DDDGFA raised $235,662 of that, making it the third-highest fundraiser.
DDDGFA president Paul Durden said the result was “magnificent”, and it could not have happened without support from volunteers and committee members.
“We knew we’d be up there, but we didn’t know we’d get third again,” he said.
The DDDGFA fundraises all year round, but Mr Durden said its biggest events — the Good Friday show ’n’ shine and music day, and online auction — boosted its total.
Mr Durden said he thought the group would have raised more money in 2024 with $64,000 of auction items that they didn’t have this year.
However, with the help of businesses from around the region, and an anonymous $10,000 donation on Wednesday, April 16, the group beat its $193,240 amount by $42,222.
“It’s a great achievement by everyone involved,” Mr Durden said.
“I think we’ve built a really good trusted brand that everyone wants to get behind.”
Mr Durden said the group was on track to surpass $1 million raised in total during its 10th year of fundraising in 2026.
After a well-earned break, organisers will start fundraising again in October with their lamb and cattle drive.
Fundraising totals around the region:
Shepparton $46,684
Mooroopna $33,764
Tatura $13,305
Devenish Dookie & District $235,662
Numurkah $26,405
Toolamba $2,475
Murchison $14,031
Euroa $22,029
Nathalia $27,965
Nagambie $27,044
Kyabram $37,066
Echuca-Moama $125,998
Rochester $14,743
Rushworth $4979
Strathmerton $7,094
Benalla $53,790
Cobram-Barooga $42,306
Girgarre $3660
Tongala $8505
Seymour and District $26,998
Violet Town $5538
Avenel $4929
Tungamah $31,769