Good Friday Appeal tin shake goes online

Instead of seeing tin rattlers at street corners, the Royal Children's Hospital campaign has made a virtual tin shake for people to donate.

About $1.2 million dollars in donations has already rolled by noon on the 89th year of the Good Friday Appeal to help children.

READ MORE:

Judy Conn, who has volunteered with the Warrnambool appeal for 15 years said between about $30,000 was collected at the traffic lights around the city most years.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures put in place by the government the traditional tin shake will not happen, with organisers moving the appeal online.

Ms Conn told The Standard it was "gut wrenching" to not be out in the community supporting the hospital.

"I normally have about 30 to 40 people collecting," she said.

"But they're all keen to do it next year. Of course we can't take the risk of having people out.

"It's a bit sad."

People can still donate to the appeal via the Virtual Tin Shake.

Each town throughout Victoria has been assigned a virtual tin to raise funds for the appeal.

The online tin shake had raised more than $280,000.

Koroit CFA captain Leigh Mugavin said the safety of CFA members and the general community were behind the decision.

"We are very disappointed, we were getting things ready to go," Mr Mugavin said.

"But we have to put first the safety of both the public and our members.

"We need our members to be fit and ready to respond to emergencies so we can't take risks in these extraordinary circumstances."

It's a far cry from the usual carnival vibes at the Melbourne hospital with entertainers, famous faces and lots of happy children, said appeal executive director Anne Randall.

"Everywhere you drive in Melbourne you are bailed up and someone sticks a tin in your window, and that obviously cannot happen," appeal executive director Anne Randall told AAP.

"We tried to do what we would normally do but in an online environment ... It also goes back to the great affection the community has for the Royal Children's Hospital.

"The coronavirus doesn't take away that affection."

While the total funds raised may take a hit - given the coronavirus and generosity during the bushfires - Ms Randall said anything helped.

"We don't expect to break any records this year," she said.

"Whatever we raise is going to be money the hospital didn't have yesterday."

Last year, a record $18 million was raised.

Donations help the hospital care for children like Quinnie Westwood, the face of this year's campaign.

Quinnie was born unable to breathe and had kidney failure, before undergoing surgery to get her grandfather's kidney at 33-months-old.

The youngster is now six-years-old and despite the challenges faced since birth, including having to take anti-rejection medication, she makes her parents proud of how far she has come.

Instead of the usual all day televised telethon - with about 100,000 volunteers working the phones - there's a special show from 7pm on the Seven Network.

This year marks the 150th year for the Royal Children's Hospital and the 75th year for the Country Fire Association, which has supported the fundraising efforts since 1954.

To donate, head online to www.goodfridayappeal.com.au or www.virtualtinshake.com

Australian Associated Press

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.