The Good Friday Appeal is a fundraising activity

Fundraising

Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...

 on behalf of the Royal Children's Hospital

Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

The Royal Children's Hospital is a major children's hospital in Melbourne, Australia.As the major paediatric hospital in Victoria, the Royal Children's Hospital and offers a full range of clinical services, tertiary care and health promotion and prevention programs for children and adolescents...

, in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. In 2010, the appeal raised A$14,462,000.

The Good Friday Appeal is a unique fundraising activity that brings together people from all parts of the community in a very special way. The common goal is to raise money for The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Individuals and businesses, clubs, schools and country towns can be seen conducting billycart races or ferret and yabby races, holding a gala ball in a grand hotel, running a golf day or shaking collection cans. The Appeal’s strength lies in the thousands of volunteers who give of their time, expertise and creativity to ensure that events are successful and the rewards are great.

It started in 1931 when a group of sportsmen and journalists from the Herald & Weekly Times' publication The Sporting Globe organised a sporting carnival in aid of charity; the Children’s Hospital was nominated as a recipient of the funds. In 1942, the Managing Director of 'The Herald' agreed that The Herald and radio station 3DB should promote an annual Appeal on Good Friday. In 1957, Channel 7 joined the Appeal and began the first daylong telethon, which continues each year at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium. Channel 7 Melbourne and The Herald and Weekly Times have remained major supporters of the Good Friday Appeal and in recent years 3AW 693 and Magic 1278 have become official radio supporters.

The Good Friday Appeal is known for the fun, enthusiasm and ingenuity of those involved. Supporters

The Appeal is a non-political, non- denominational organisation that exists solely to financially support The Royal Children’s’ Hospital, Melbourne.

Currently, three media organisations 3AW

3AW

3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...

, Seven Melbourne and The Herald and Weekly Times Herald Sun

Herald Sun

The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...

 continue to be supporters of the appeal, giving editorial space and endorsement.

History

The Appeal started in 1931 when groups of journalists from The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd

The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd

The Herald and Weekly Times Limited is a newspaper publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. It is owned and operated by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited, who purchased HWT in 1987.-Newspapers:...

 organised a sporting carnival

Carnival

Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...

 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

Keith Murdoch

Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch was an Australian journalist and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and Chairman of News Corp.-Life and career:Murdoch was born in Melbourne in 1885, the son of Annie and the Rev...

 as Managing Director and Editor of The Herald agreed that The Herald and radio station 3DB (now MIX 101.1) should broadcast an all day appeal on Good Friday

Good Friday

Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...

. In 1957, HSV-7 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.

The Good Friday Appeal is now held at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium where HSV-7, 3AW

3AW

3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...

 and Magic 1278

3EE

Magic 1278 is a radio station operating in Melbourne, Australia.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in 1992, but was derived from legendary radio station 3XY which began transmission in 1935...

 all conduct their day's broadcast from.

In 2008, the appeal raised $12,482,380 and in 2007, $11,788,970.
In 2009, the appeal raised over $13,862,734, despite the continuing effects of the global financial crisis and the setbacks Victoria experienced during the 2009 Bushfires in February only two months before.

Year	Amount raised (A$ Australian dollar The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu... )
2007	$11,788,970
2008	$12,482,380
2009	$13,862,734
2010	$14,462,000
2011	$15,156,000