General News
28 August, 2024
Hopetoun volunteer an appeal inspiration
Hopetoun’s Olive Wellington OAM is well-known for having a hand in many local organisations and clubs, but her friends managed to get the better of her recently and surprise her with a morning tea honouring her years of volunteering as area manager for the Good Friday Appeal (GFA).
Glenda Hallam, a friend of Ms Wellington’s, was in touch with the Good Friday Appeal and organised the celebration honouring her 68 years of service to the charity as representatives toured the region thanking volunteers and communities for their contributions.
“It was the worst-kept secret in town,” Ms Hallam said.
“And it was the hardest.
“I was sitting with some of the ladies last week and started to remind them to bring a plate for the morning tea, and I sensed something beside me.
“I turned around and there was Olive - she had snuck in without me noticing - so I had to quickly change the subject.”
Ms Hallam then had to come up with a plan to get her friend to the celebration at the Neighbourhood House without her realising what was happening.
Ms Wellington said if she had known, she would have had her hair done at the local salon and worn her best clothes.
“I couldn't tell her to dress in her Sunday best - she would have realised something was up,” Ms Hallam said.
“I was telling her ‘Just come over here. I need to show you something - just come have a quick look.”
Ms Wellington was surprised to find more than 20 friends had gathered, along with the representatives from the Good Friday Appeal who had an award to give her.
“I was only supposed to be doing it for one day,” Ms Wellington said.
“There was a mix-up with who was supposed to be collecting the donations one year so I said I'd do it.
“That was 68 years ago.
“Since then, my children and my grandchildren have all been recruited as tin-shakers from the moment they could walk.”
Ms Wellington was in the process of handing the reins over to Anne Pulham but she still liked to be involved.
“I still do some collecting and swap the tins out at the shops throughout the year," she said.
“I'm letting go of it, slowly.”
GFA head of fundraising and communications Simone Dalla Riva has been part of the organisation for three years and said she was reminded every day of the amazing support from the communities of regional Victoria.
“You give your time, bring the community together, and we couldn't manage the appeal without your support,” she said.
Ms Dalla Riva shared some of the statistics from the 2024 appeal, which saw a record $23,368,724 raised for the year.
She said the money counting room in Melbourne had collected $824,000 worth of notes and coins in the metro area alone this year, including 145,751 five-cent pieces (more than $7000 worth).
But, by far the largest contributor was the combined collections from regional Victoria and southern New South Wales, which totalled $5,261,913.
“Your support has helped create one of the best children’s hospitals in the world,” Ms Dalla Riva said.
“The collective impact of the lifesaving projects you have funded has touched the lives of children not only within Victoria but across Australia and internationally, too.
“Your support funds groundbreaking research, the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, investment in leadership and training for staff, and the all-important patient and family care centre that makes staying in hospital as good an experience as it can be.”
GFA community fundraising manager Anna Wilson said it was wonderful to be able to travel to Hopetoun and meet Ms Wellington, who she had spoken to on the phone so many times.
“Thank you to everyone for coming and for having us here,” Ms Wilson said.
“It's great to meet the people you've spoken to on the phone or by email and put a face to the name.
“Everything they raise makes a huge difference and huge impact on patients, families and staff at the Royal Children's Hospital.”