Show ’n’ Shine and Music Day at Dookie was the Devenish, Dookie and District Good Friday Appeal’s final event.
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The Devenish, Dookie and District Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital raised $200,722 this year, bringing its 10-year fundraising total to over $1 million.
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DDDGFA president Paul Durden said he thanked everyone who made this amazing achievement possible.
“We’re putting Dookie and Devenish on the map,” Mr Durden said.
“Everybody respects what we've built, and every dollar that we get donated goes to the hospital.”
The DDDGFA ranked among the top three regional towns in Victoria for this year’s Good Friday Appeal.
“The area is miles ahead when you look at the size of the other towns,” Mr Durden said.
All year long the DDDGFA raises funds through golf days, lawn bowls events, cattle drives and lucky draws.
“Our biggest event of the year is our online auction, where we generally have over 300 lots all donated from different businesses,” Mr Durden said.
He said organisers auctioned everything from chook food and hay to jewellery and accommodation packages.
“Then we have our big Show ’n’ Shine and Music Day at Dookie that finishes the year on Good Friday,” he said.
Mr Durden said he was happy to see Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, state Member for Shepparton Kim O'Keeffe and City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali in attendance.
DDDGFA committee members with Kim O'Keeffe.
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“They’re always supporting us at our events and are happy to get up and say a few words,” Mr Durden said.
“Our volunteers do a fantastic job … they know that it’s going to a good cause and they’re happy to give.
“I want to personally thank everybody involved; the volunteers, the buyers, the community and all the businesses and farmers that get behind it,” he said.
After some well-earned rest, the DDDGFA team will start fundraising for 2027 with a sheep and cattle drive and a lucky ticket draw in October.
Regional support for the 95th Good Friday Appeal did not end with the DDDGFA.
This year marked the 50th year of fundraising for Mooroopna, Euroa and Stanhope.
The 2026 regional tally board records Shepparton raising $59,138, Mooroopna $42,097 and Tatura $20,909.
The overall fundraising state total for 2026 was a record-breaking $25,268,485.
Good Friday Appeal chair Penny Fowler said the state had united once again.
“Giving for the kids has always been at the heart of this appeal, and year after year, across the state, Victorians continue to show extraordinary generosity and compassion,” she said.
“Every donation, big or small, helps ensure children receive the world-class care they deserve regardless of where they live.”
Across regional Victoria, the top 10 fundraising towns were:
1. Albury-Wodonga $268,457.42
2. Ballarat $217,609.72
3. Devenish, Dookie & District $200,722.04
4. Geelong $172,722.50
5. Wangaratta $152,324.56
6. Echuca/Moama $134,989.33
7. Bendigo $107,469.94
8. Corowa-Wahgunyah $106,067.96
9. Warrnambool $103,927.98
10. Moe/Newborough $96,445.31
Auctioneer Paul Durden with Connor Henderson.
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The DDDGFA committee with Shane Sali and Sam Birrell.
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