The Good Friday Appeal is an annual fundraising event supporting the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, held each Good Friday. Since its inception in 1931, the appeal has raised over $368 million, with a record $23 million raised in 2023 alone. The event involves individuals, schools, clubs, and communities statewide, all contributing to support the hospital. In 2014, the telethon moved to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, offering ticketed access to the live studio audience, with tickets available through Ticketek. The MCEC’s extensive facilities also enable expanded activities like the Kids Day Out program, enhancing community fundraising efforts for the hospital.
History
The appeal started in 1931 when groups of journalists from The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd organised a sporting carnival in aid of Melbourne hospitals. The proceeds from the appeal initially went to different hospitals each year, but from their third-year proceeds have gone exclusively to the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital. In 1942, Sir Keith Murdoch as managing director and editor of The Herald agreed that The Herald and radio station 3DB should broadcast an all-day appeal on Good Friday. In 1957, the Seven Network joined the appeal and presented a three-hour telethon on Good Friday afternoon. In 1960, the telethon adopted the day-long format which continues annually to this day.
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the telethon was also re-broadcast through regional Victoria via local channels, with Prime Television being the sole regional broadcaster from 1992 with the aggregation of regional markets.
Funds raised
| Year | Amount raised | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | A£427 | 2 |
| 1932 | $22,511.56 ^(Total amount raised from 1932 to 1941) | 3 |
| 1933 | ||
| 1934 | ||
| 1935 | ||
| 1936 | ||
| 1937 | ||
| 1938 | ||
| 1939 | ||
| 1940 | ||
| 1941 | ||
| 1942 | $16,620.20 ^ | |
| 1943 | $25,308.17 ^ | |
| 1944 | $37,061.70 ^ | |
| 1945 | $56,128.45 ^ | |
| 1946 | $82,716.56 ^ | |
| 1947 | $62,823.16 ^ | |
| 1948 | $84,747.53 ^ | |
| 1949 | $115,382.42 ^ | |
| 1950 | $138,066 ^ | |
| 1951 | $200,439.92 ^ | |
| 1952 | $234,060.80 ^ | |
| 1953 | $260,493.70 ^ | |
| 1954 | $312,000 ^ | |
| 1955 | $269,400.43 ^ | |
| 1956 | $373,934.47 ^ | |
| 1957 | $331,886.25 ^ | |
| 1958 | $335,843.21 ^ | |
| 1959 | $348,259.89 ^ | |
| 1960 | $472,178.56 ^ | |
| 1961 | $390,983.62 ^ | |
| 1962 | $368,356.89 ^ | |
| 1963 | $380,698.87 ^ | |
| 1964 | $391,328.42 ^ | |
| 1965 | $384,743.52 ^ | |
| 1966 | $381,706.35 | |
| 1967 | $379,940.42 | |
| 1968 | $400,274.25 | |
| 1969 | $457,880.23 | |
| 1970 | $503,857.64 | |
| 1971 | $552,918.61 | |
| 1972 | $638,263.35 | |
| 1973 | $778,018.77 | |
| 1974 | $947,532.51 | |
| 1975 | $990,224.26 | |
| 1976 | $1,269,772.34 | |
| 1977 | $1,489,866 | |
| 1978 | $1,586,032.92 | |
| 1979 | $1,724,566.64 | |
| 1980 | $1,819,662.10 | |
| 1981 | $2,015,342.41 | |
| 1982 | $2,075,869.77 | |
| 1983 | $2,121,330.32 | |
| 1984 | $2,467,163.87 | |
| 1985 | $2,549,188.99 | |
| 1986 | $3,150,997.67 | |
| 1987 | $3,161,735.84 | |
| 1988 | $3,657,450.52 | |
| 1989 | $4,070,206.89 | |
| 1990 | $4,744,617.97 | |
| 1991 | $4,424,257.53 | |
| 1992 | $4,423,699.64 | |
| 1993 | $4,437,744.50 | |
| 1994 | $4,531,942.33 | |
| 1995 | $4,624,092.47 | |
| 1996 | $5,341,845.56 | |
| 1997 | $5,704,378.39 | |
| 1998 | $6,180,968.34 | |
| 1999 | $6,425,729.76 | |
| 2000 | $6,985,796 | |
| 2001 | $7,501,861.33 | |
| 2002 | $8,129,019.07 | |
| 2003 | $9,806,373.03 | |
| 2004 | $10,057,537.20 | |
| 2005 | $10,082,647.20 | |
| 2006 | $10,280,532.53 | |
| 2007 | $11,788,970.87 | |
| 2008 | $12,482,380 | |
| 2009 | $13,862,495 | |
| 2010 | $14,462,000 | |
| 2011 | $15,600,000 | |
| 2012 | $15,820,640.78 | |
| 2013 | $16,405,534.65 | |
| 2014 | $16,846,396.09 | |
| 2015 | $17,109,063.22 | |
| 2016 | $17,445,624.38 | |
| 2017 | $17,605,662 | |
| 2018 | $18,043,251.55 | |
| 2019 | $18,175,467 | |
| 2020 | $18,200,000 | |
| 2021 | $17,122,879 | 4 |
| 2022 | $22,328,154 | 5 |
| 2023 | $23,061,320 | 6 |
| 2024 | $23,368,724 | 7 |
| 2025 | $23,822,792 | |
| ^ denotes that the amount raised is listed in Australian dollars (A$), which has only been used since 1966. Prior to 1966 the official currency was the Australian pound (A£). | ||
Good Friday SuperClash
The Good Friday SuperClash is an annual Australian Football League (AFL) match played on Good Friday, traditionally between the North Melbourne Football Club and the Carlton Football Club. The fixture is held at Docklands Stadium (commercially Marvel Stadium) in Melbourne and is played in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, combining elite sport with a significant charitable cause.
The AFL, North Melbourne Football Club, Carlton Football Club, and their supporters actively contribute to the fundraising campaign through a variety of initiatives. These include in-stadium donation drives, charity auctions, and public fundraising events in the lead-up to and during the match. $5 is donated from every ticket sold at the match. Players, coaches, and club officials participate in fundraising activities, including hospital visits and telethon events, to engage the broader community and encourage donations. Special programs, such as "Superheroes on the Field," are also part of the event, with young patients from the Royal Children’s Hospital, often dressed in superhero costumes, joining the players on the field as a symbol of their strength and bravery. These symbolic moments serve to highlight the emotional connection between the AFL community and the children receiving treatment at the hospital.
See also
- Royal Children's Hospital
- Herald Sun AFL premiers poster cartoonists (Proceeds to the Good Friday Appeal)
- William Ellis Green (1954–2008; including back issues 1897–1953) – raised over $2 million8
- Mark Knight (2009–present)9
External links
- Official website
- Donate to the Appeal
- Herald Sun Shop Premiership Posters (proceeds to the Good Friday Appeal)
References
"Hospital appeal raises record $18 million". https://www.sbs.com.au/news/hospital-appeal-raises-record-18-million ↩
"1931: Good Friday Appeal Founded". Royal Children's Hospital. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024. https://rch150.org.au/timeline/our-community/good-friday-appeal-founded/ ↩
"Funds Raised Year by Year". Royal Children's Hospital. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024. https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/about-us/our-history/funds-raised-year-by-year/ ↩
"The 2021 Final Tally". 2 April 2021. https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/news/the-2021-final-tally/ ↩
"2022 Final Tally". 16 April 2022. https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/news/2022-final-tally/ ↩
"2023 Final Tally". 8 April 2023. https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/news/record-breaking-fundraising-result-for-the-2023-royal-childrens-hospital-good-friday-appeal/ ↩
Clarke, Mitch; Booth, Sarah (30 March 2024). "Victorians Dig Deep for 93rd Good Friday Appeal". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/good-friday-appeal/victorians-dig-deep-for-93rd-good-friday-appeal/news-story/3356d8c7369f9438574b733ad7cc340f ↩
"Final siren for legendary footy cartoonist WEG". The Age. 29 December 2008. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. http://www.theage.com.au/national/final-siren-for-legendary-footy-cartoonist-weg-20081229-76mh.html ↩
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/posters-the-winner-as-mark-knight-takes-wegs-reins/news-story/52378c05a53ca4a59fd00c0d3d81c171 Posters the winner as Mark Knight takes WEGs reigns http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/posters-the-winner-as-mark-knight-takes-wegs-reins/news-story/52378c05a53ca4a59fd00c0d3d81c171 ↩