For more than 56 years, Ararat Fire Brigade has been tin rattling for the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) – a cause that first hit home when a brigade member's child required lifesaving surgery.
Jim Jackson kicked off fundraising efforts after his daughter received heart surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital back in 1970 before dedicating 37 years as the brigade's area manager.
He raised $743,869 within the Ararat community up until he passed away in 2015 and would stay back until the last cent was counted, begging to see what the final tally was.
Graeme and Peter Cooper both took over the reins from Jim in the years following, however, for the past 5 years, Rhonda Wall and Daniel Ramsdell have taken the lead as area managers.
"We will ensure the support to the RCH and the Appeal continues around Ararat long into the future and will endure to honour Jim's legacy with the same dedication, drive and passion he had for the Appeal," Rhonda said.
"We all love raising money for the kids and seeing it go toward research and development to help enable them to give children a better life through treatment and cures.
"One of my relations received treatment from the age of one to 16 years old and I cannot speak highly enough of the care and dedication at the hospital.
"There are other brigade members' families who have had children treated there too, such as Peter Cooper when his daughter required open-heart surgery.
"The CFA connection is very special throughout Victoria, and we are proud to carry on this tradition for many years to come."
With a current tally of total funds raised at $1,163,913 and an annual target of $30,000, Ararat brigade members continue to strive for more each year.
"We fundraise by walking the streets of Ararat rattling tins with busloads of children, friends and parents, some of whom have had children hospitalised at the Royal Children's Hospital," Rhonda said.
"We also collect at the traffic lights raising a large amount of money, and all the pubs, clubs and businesses in Ararat have collection boxes too.
"One volunteer visits the neighbouring towns on the outskirts of Ararat and has been doing so for many years.
"Member Carl Forshaw has brought roughly $18,000 to the Appeal over eight years through raffles, auctions, barbecues, concerts and dressing up as the Easter Bunny. He will continue until he can't and says he is doing it for the kids."
Rhonda encourages other brigades to get involved if they haven't already, and it's OK to start small because every dollar counts.
"Just do it! Keep trying until it works and ask other brigades for their advice or join in alongside them," Rhonda said.
Meanwhile in Boronia, the name Bill Ireland remains infamous with the Good Friday Appeal, as he has also supported the cause since 1970.
Bill joined the brigade in 1967 and recalls the brigade decided to start collecting for the hospital three years later. He has only missed two collections since.
"When I joined the brigade, we weren't part of a group, and it wasn't until we joined the Knox Group with seven other fire brigades that we started collecting together for the RCH," Bill said.
"I probably would have collected quite a few thousand dollars over the years, and sometimes I get the same people donating who remember me year after year.
"Over many years I've collected at the Boronia Road and Dorset Road intersection, and more recently we have been basing ourselves at Kmart in Boronia on the night before.
"We don't usually set targets, but on average we get between $30,000 and $35,000 a year. We try to keep up with the lack of cash that people carry so we now have a card machine available."
Bill's connection to the RCH runs deep, with his son receiving treatment when he was younger.
"I was also just made a life member of the RCH and recently received a certificate of appreciation for helping the hospital too," Bill said.
"It's amazing to see the generosity of the community and every second car donating. Lots of them have kids in the car and they learn to understand what the hospital is.
"You don't have to force people to give money, they're so generous. Last year we had people handing out $100 notes. It's just so nice to know that you are helping in some way."
Make this Friday a Good Friday. Give what you can – in person or donate online at https://fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/find-a-fundraiser
