General News
8 December, 2025
$8,000 gift boosts oncology services
THE benefits of the recent Pink Fundraiser at the Ararat RSL were on full display recently with an $8,000 donation passed on to the Ararat Hospital. The annual fundraiser exceeded all expectations this year, with RSL staff managing to collect an impressive $16,000 which is evenly split between the Ararat Hospital’s Oncology Ward and the McGrath Foundation.
The annual event is pulled together each ear by cancer survivor Margaret Kelly, who along with RSL staff, arrange a program of events and initiatives to raise money.
This year, the volunteers staged the traditional pink morning tea at the RSL along with a concert in the evening.
At the morning tea, Ms Kelly along with RSL colleagues Jenni Jacobi and Will Carnes had their hair shaved in return for donations.
The future of next year’s fundraiser remains in doubt, with Ms Kelly saying she will be retiring from her job at the RSL in April.
When asked if she will continue after her retirement, she replied “I’ll think about it.”
The tally from this year’s fundraiser was assisted by several raffles, collection tins and donations from groups including TOWN (Take Off Weight Naturally), the water aerobics club and bike club.
Ararat Hospital intends using its donation to purchase another treatment chair.
East Grampians health Service CEO Nick Bush said he was blown away by the generosity of the Ararat community.
“We thank the pink ladies and the support of the RSL for the generous donations.
“Eight thousand dollars is a lot of money that will go towards a new chair this year and we thank Marg Kelly and Jenni Jacobi for their leadership and drive to deliver this amount of money, their passion and their vision,” Mr Bush said.
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