Today : Jul 21, 2025
Local News
18 April 2025

Record Auction Raises Over One Million For Charity

Community efforts drive significant funds for Royal Children’s Hospital appeal this Good Friday

This year’s Good Friday Appeal Charity Home is gearing up to go under the hammer next weekend, with all proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Excitement is building as children from the Royal Children’s Hospital were joined by players from the Geelong Cats AFLW team, Geelong Cougars, and Western United Football Club for an afternoon filled with smiles.

Mount Duneed carpenter Jake Murrell, whose son Evan is a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital, dedicated his time to work on the house. “I did the fix-out stage, me and another carpenter, we did half the house each, so it would have taken me five to six days to do it by myself. We just worked together as a team,” he said. Murrell expressed that helping out with the Good Friday Appeal house project is one way he can give back.

His son Evan has a rare genetic disorder called X-linked hypophosphatemia, which impacts bones and teeth, requiring him to have antibody injections every two weeks. Evan has been to the hospital at least 12 times, and Murrell noted, “They’ve been really supportive when we’ve been there. Evan has had to do injections and blood tests and X-rays, bone density scans, and it’s good when you’re there; they’re all very supportive.”

The house, named Juno 442-D48, is a double-storey, four-bedroom home complete with a theatre, wine room, retreat, and alfresco spaces. The auction will be held outside the Mount Duneed property on April 18, 2025, at no reserve.

In a remarkable twist, Maddison Luebker, a dedicated Melbourne nurse, helped raise $1,150,500 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal by winning the bidding for the Mt Duneed property. This record-high result for the appeal came as a surprise to Luebker, who had previously been outbid for other homes. “It was the dream home, but it felt very far out of reach; I didn’t think we were going to get it,” she said, reflecting on her experience during the auction.

After making a final $500 bid, Luebker claimed the keys to the four-bedroom house built by Henley Homes at Villawood Properties’ Armstrong Mt Duneed estate. The two-storey Juno design home set a new record for the annual Good Friday Appeal charity auction, surpassing last year’s $1.11 million figure. The home was valued at more than $1.3 million ahead of its auction.

Luebker’s first message after the auction was to her husband, Rheace, to inform him, “We just spent a whole lot of money.” She expressed gratitude, saying, “We are so blessed that our daughter is healthy, and I can’t imagine what it would be like for the parents taking theirs into the hospital, so if we are going into debt, the best place for it to go is to the Royal Children’s Hospital.” The family, including their two-year-old daughter Mia, will move into the property as they relocate from Point Cook to be closer to Luebker’s parents in Torquay.

Villawood Properties co-founder Rory Costelloe noted the significance of achieving a record result amidst an election campaign, stating, “People do seem to go above and beyond a bit because of the enthusiasm of the day.” Henley Homes chief executive Antony Blackshaw expressed his excitement as well, sharing that they have now raised a combined $22 million since 1993 through their charity auctions.

As part of the Good Friday Appeal festivities, sports stars and Royal Children’s Hospital patients participated in an Easter egg hunt at the charity home in Mt Duneed. Royal Children’s Hospital patient Scarlett Dickson, 12, was seen with tradie OSL Concreter Luca Tauoletti in front of the Villawood Home, illustrating the community spirit surrounding the event.

Meanwhile, the San Remo community also contributed significantly to the Good Friday Appeal, raising over $35,000 by the middle of the afternoon on April 18, 2025. The San Remo CFA's fire trucks conducted a fundraising drive through every street in the town, with a team of volunteer tin rattlers on the ground.

Sarah Fry, the San Remo CFA’s annual Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal organizer, reported a warm and generous response from the townsfolk. “The team has received a very warm and generous response as they have gone around the town with an excellent result on the day,” she said.

The CFA collaborated with the San Remo Hotel, Craig Edmonds at Jim’s Bait and Tackle, and other community groups to organize various fundraising events. These included a town walk, a treasure hunt, an 8km walk along the George Bass Walk, and a weekend-long fishing competition, all contributing to the funds raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

After the fundraising activities, everyone was invited back to the San Remo Hotel for kids' games, live music, a silent auction, and food and drink, creating a vibrant community atmosphere.

The Good Friday Appeal continues to unite communities, showcasing the power of collective efforts in supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital and the families it serves. The upcoming auction and the generous contributions from individuals and communities alike highlight the spirit of giving during this special time of year.