A charity home that will be sold for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal had its first concrete slab poured, watched over by four star Geelong Cats players this week.
Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Sam De Koning and Tom Stewart helped with a banner run-through and slab pour for the annual fund-raiser.
The home, by Henley Homes and Villawood Properties, is an annual fixture of the Good Friday Appeal, kicking in more than $1 million each of the past three years.
On hand with the Cats were Children’s Hospital veterans Alexandra Luburic and Tommy Maxwell.
Twelve-year-old Tommy was born with aortic stenosis, a potentially fatal condition where the aortic valve narrows abnormally. He underwent his first open-heart surgery within 48 hours but a few hours later, he suffered a cardiac arrest, On day 15, he endured a second life-saving operation.
“You wouldn’t know it now,” his dad Stuart said. “He’s nearly six feet tall, and he’s very well.”
Six-year-old Alex suffers from neurofibromatosis, which causes tumours on her nerves, requiring her to wear a plex form. She was very excited to meet her Cats heroes.
The 2025 GFA house will be a two-storey Juno 442-D48 home at Electric Crescent at Villawood’s Armstrong community at Mount Duneed.
Everything in the home is donated – the land, all materials, fittings, furnishings, landscaping – with all trades and supplier’s services, skills and materials provided free.
All funds raised by the no-reserve auction will go to the Good Friday Appeal.
“We all know someone who’s needed the Children’s,” Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said.
“For many of us, it’s been our own families, so we know first-hand just how valuable it is. This is why we do the auction home every year. And it’s why so many people get on board with their supplies, labour and support.
“Truth is, there’s a small army behind every auction and they’re all wearing their heart on their sleeve. This is a true labour of love for a great Victorian cause.”
