Community
2 April, 2025
Appeal needs collectors
COBDEN and District have been collecting for the Good Friday Appeal for over 50 years, but this year are facing significant challenges which put their collection abilities at risk.
Cobden Quota Friends of Rotary, who have been organising the collection for many years, have been unable to collect from the entire town for the past couple of years due to only having a few collectors.
This year, the collecting team, operating out of the Uniting Church Hall, have received another devastating blow.
Member of Cobden Quota Friends of Rotary Fran Warden said the volunteer committee did not receive a vital permit required to collect from one of their usual key collection points.
“After more than 35 years, this year we were not given a permit to collect from the Neylon Street roundabout,” she said.
“The roundabout has brought in many hundreds of dollars to the appeal.”
According to Mrs Warden, collectors for the appeal are now only permitted to collect at intersections which are controlled by traffic lights.
This will affect many rural communities and towns which do not operate with traffic lights due to smaller populations and less road traffic.
Mrs Warden said she spoke to local police, who told her they didn’t mind the committee collecting from the roundabout, however she was unable to obtain the correct permit from local council.
“We found out last year on the Thursday before Good Friday it was our 50th year collecting,” she said.
“Sadly Tony ‘Pies’ Malone, who started the appeal in Cobden from his parents’ business, now Cobden Bakery, passed away last year.
“He organised the appeal for many years with his band of collectors.
“Over the years we have done a brilliant job for such a small town-only collection.
“Please, Cobden, get behind this appeal as you do each year.”
Corangamite Shire Manager Environment and Emergency Belinda Bennett said the Neylon Street roundabout as well as an additional intersection in Cobden were not approved on the state-wide intersection collection permit the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal department required from Victoria Police, due to there being no traffic lights.
“As a result, council was asked to remove any mention of the intersections from the permit we issued,” she said.
“As the intersections are managed by VicRoads, we did not grant permission to collect at them in the past.
“However, previous permits stated we had no objection to people collecting there, provided they had the appropriate approvals.
“Local collectors will need to discuss the issue with the Good Friday Appeal.”
The Good Friday Appeal in Cobden will be conducted from the Uniting Church Hall, and Mrs Warden said anyone who could spare an hour or so, to please register and collect a tin on the day.
Alternatively, you are able to contact Mrs Warden on 5595 1241 to register, and if you would like to cover a specific area, to let her know so she can keep it for you.
“Our permit allows us to collect from April 5 to April 18 so if you are going away at Easter you can collect beforehand,” Mrs Warden said.
“We like an adult to be with young children.
“All collectors will have a Royal Children’s Hospital badge with their name on it and will be wearing an orange vest.
“Donations can be made at the collection centre (Uniting Church Hall) on the day as well.”
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