Hopes pinned on roadshow

Alex de Vos
An antique road show could be the answer to the financial woes of a Geelong Red Cross branch, according to its secretary.
Highton Red Cross Unit’s Barbara Cocks said the group was in desperate need of funding after the charity cancelled it’s annual March Red Cross Calling fundraising appeal.
A spokesperson said Red Cross had decided to dump the 2009 appeal to instead focus on raising money for Victoria’s bushfire victims. It was the first time in 60 years the charity’s Red Cross Calling appeal had not gone ahead.
The Red Cross said it had no alternative to cancelling its annual fundraising campaign because of the “unprecedented requirements of responding to Australia’s worst-ever bushfire disaster”.
Ms Cocks said the unit “heavily” relied on the annual appeal to fund a majority of the organisation’s services.
“We’re terribly short of money and are really struggling at the moment, so we’re trying to make up for it in other areas,” Ms Cocks said.
Highton Red Cross president Kath Stewart was looking forward to the heirloom appraisal on Saturday as a financial lifeline for the group.
She said the event would feature qualified jeweller Peter Williams and antiques expert Ainsley Ball conduction appraisals.
Ms Stewart hoped the weekend fundraiser would put the branch back on the path to sound finances.
“We’re working very hard to fill the gaps and we hope this will attract a decent crowd,” Ms Stewart said.
The Red Cross afternoon of heirloom appraisals starts 2pm at St Luke’s Uniting Church.