Alice Heylbut and Bailey and Rylee Wood at Tocumwal.
The Southern Riverina has demonstrated the importance of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne to the region community, with a huge fundraising effort across three communities.
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They came out in droves to support new and traditional Good Friday Appeal fundraisers in Tocumwal, Jerilderie and Finly.
Fndraising activities includes raffles, sports days, family fun days and the good old door knock and tin rattling.
According to the offical regional tally room, the combined Southern Riverina effort resulted in more than $50,000 being donated so far.
Tocumwal topped the local list, with $20,214, followed by Jerilderie with $19,949 and then Finley with $11,333.
A big part of the Tocumwal fundraising effort was last Thursday’s fun day, coordinated by Paul and Sharon Stevens.
Running from noon to 4pm, the afternoon featured children’s entertainment, face painting, mermaid braids, henna tattoos, live music and raffles.
Finley’s fundraising team coordinator Vanessa Kydd said the grand total incuded phone donations of $1429.71 from the Channel 7 televised event.
Mrs Kydd said the Finley fundraising team once again did an amazing job collecting, sorting and counting funds from the local community, despite lacking volunteers this year.
“Hence, while our volunteers were late to a few streets this year, they really did their very best,” she said.
“The 2026 Finley fundraising team volunteers were Savannah Wilson, Maicie Allan, Craig and Sophie O'Donnell, Wendy Coates, Rose and Kate Tilley, Piper, Mackenzie and Frankie Kydd, Cherilyn Taig, Daniel Kydd, Dawn and Matilda Kydd, Sue Hynes and Patrick and Sally Carr.”
Anyone missed by volunteers can still donate via the official Finley fundraising link - https://fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraiser/Finley.
Winner of the hamper was Dale Brown, and winner of the direct sales hamper was Vikki Dodds.
The total from Finley business purple donation tin were: Tuppal Hotel $157.50, BP $122.40, Finley Newsagency $102.65, Boomerang Motors $73.05, Ampol Service Station $35.85, Finley Quality Meats $30.60, Finley Medical Clinic $28.70, Finley Bakery $10.65, Murray Street Cafe $27.05, Finley Post Office $20.70, Finley Pharmacy $20.65, Con Carr Betta $18.95, AG Warehouse $18.65, NAB $16.05, Ashley Haynes Butchery $6.05.
In Jerilderie, the main event was the 36th annual golf and bowls charity day at the Sports Club.
The ‘serious’ golfers teed off as early as the sun would let them, followed by children and their parents making their way around the town tin rattling.
Golf results are in the Off The Tee column in today’s SRN Sport.
Elleah Baxter-Jukes, Paul Stevens and Jamie Haynes at the Tocumwal fundraiser.
Ava Bain enjoys the ball pit at Toc.
Olivia Arnold gets her mermaid braids at Toc.
Jade Camden was a hit with music lovers young and old at Tocumwal, including Aynz-Lee Donnelly.
Roxanne and Terrance McGee and Cadman Ham at Jerilderie.
Jerilderie Good Friday volunteer Lara Hercus gets a donation from our local paramedics.
Chris May and Max and Barry Roe at Jerilderie.
Madeline and Dan Wark were happy to contribute when Rose Tylie, Piper Kydd, Kate Tylie and Mackenzie and Frankie (front) Kydd called to collect for the RCH Good Friday Appeal in Finley.