Not this year.
In 2021, with uncertainty still looming around coronavirus restrictions and the possibility of snap lockdown, the appeal is moving online in a quest to top last year's $75,000 total.
Devenish Dookie and District appeal president Paul Durden said nearly $4 million had been raised in the 13 years since the event started in Devenish and Dookie, but he was looking for this year's to be the biggest yet.
The event will be held online on March 20.
“You just mention the Good Friday Appeal and people are happy to give,” Mr Durden said.
“We've done barbecues and sold raffle tickets at Yarrawonga, people get behind it."
He said the idea for an online auction had been inspired by the success he'd seen at work, with Kevin Hicks Real Estate holding online auctions through 2020 and 2021.
“We've found for clearing and property sales it's worked much better than we expected,” he said, hoping for the same would the March 20 auction.
Kevin Hicks Real Estate will host the auction on its website.
“Instead of 80 people in a pub, in theory the whole country or anyone in the state could tune in,” Mr Durden said.
“A lot of people have been regular donators, but with online we've got more quality items and businesses have been more keen to get involved.
“They'll have their logo popped up on the screen and be seen by more people."
He said there was "something for everyone" at the auction from agricultural equipment through to accommodation packages and more.
There will still be an event held on Good Friday at the Gladstone Hotel in Dookie, with a show and shine event for car lovers. Judging will be held at noon.
To find out more about either event, or to get involved, head to the Devenish Dookie and District Good Friday Appeal Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army will return to face-to-face collection after in-person collection was stopped last year.
Salvation Army Shepparton captain Kayrn Wishart said collections were planned for familiar sites such as Woolworths in North Shepparton, IGA, Riverside shopping centre and others.
However, door-to-door collection is still off the table nation-wide.
“It has a big impact on what we can do locally,” Ms Wishart said.
“Last year we only raised $5000 locally, normally we raise $15,000 which is all spent in the local area."
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