Wharparilla Lodge held its Good Friday Appeal afternoon tea on Thursday, March 28, where Bernice McCluskey’s handmade knitted chickens were on sale.
Ms McCluskey, 90, was thrilled that all the knitted chickens she made during the previous 12 months were sold.
She raised $500 for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne by selling her chickens for $5 each.
Echuca Community for the Aged pastoral carer Louise Ross was thrilled with the support shown to Ms McCluskey, including by coffee shop Bean Roasted, which sold a quarter of the chickens at its Echuca store to get her over the line.
Apart from the chickens, Wharparilla Lodge raised money through its raffle and donation efforts.
“Bernice was delighted that all of them were sold, and she raised her $500 for the Royal Children’s Hospital, which is what she wanted to do, so she was very happy,” Ms Ross said.
“Over the weekend, Bean Roasted took the rest of the chickens we had left, about 25, and sold them at their store.
“All up from all the fundraising efforts, we raised nearly $900, with over half of that coming from Bernice’s chickens.”
Ms Ross said all the residents had a good time at the afternoon tea and during the Easter long weekend.
She said Ms McCluskey was already looking ahead to next year’s event.
“Bernice is now hard at work, thinking about the project she can do for next year,” Ms Ross said.
“It fills my heart to see the residents do something meaningful and take great pleasure in helping others.”