TRANSCRIPT | GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL, MELBOURNE
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
Subjects: Good Friday Appeal.
PAUL DOWSLEY: One of my favourite faces I see at the Appeal each week is the Easter Bunny, the second is the boss of the whole Appeal, Penny Fowler, good to see you.
PENNY FOWLER: Well thank you so much, it’s wonderful to be here.
DOWSLEY: I know it’s been an important week, and important time for our politicians looking after us with a lot of things. And you have one friend of the Appeal that you want to introduce. And we always get excited when this moment happens.
FOWLER: We always get very excited. It’s our 95th Appeal this year, and I’m so excited. We’re joined here this morning by the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. Good afternoon Richard.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Great to be here. Fantastic to be here on what is a really special occasion, the 95th anniversary, with a big announcement.
FOWLER: We love it- coming with a big announcement, thank you so much.
DOWSLEY: We don’t have a drum roll-
FOWLER: We can clap!
DOWSLEY: We can pretend, a pretend one.
MARLES: Well, this year, the government is committing $2 million to the 95th Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal, which is the Good Friday Appeal. We’re really, really proud to be doing it, and this is obviously going to the Royal Children’s Hospital, but will also help specialist children services around the state.
DOWSLEY: You said it. You said the amount, Richard, but I feel like you buried it a bit. Just say it again to make sure-
MARLES: $2 million from the Commonwealth Government.
FOWLER: Thank you so much. I mean, this is so exciting for us. Thank you. We hope- we know it’s tough for everyone out there. We hope this will inspire you to give what you can, because every dollar makes a difference, and you’re right Richard, it’s going out into the regions as well this year, the excellent children’s hospital is helping our sick children Thank you so much for all your support.
MARLES: I mean, I’ve grown up with this Appeal as I think everyone in this state has watching it every Good Friday. I really do hope that this is something which inspires people to dig deep and this is Victorians getting together for such a fantastic cause. And you know, my family has used the Royal Children’s Hospital, so many Victorian families have.
DOWSLEY: And you have got four kids, and when you think about the experience you’ve had with the hospital, how do you describe the relief it is knowing that they’re in the very best care when you need them?
MARLES: Yeah, well, this is it. I mean, when your kids are in that hospital, that’s one of the most difficult times that you’re facing. And what I find really amazing is when you talk to people who are staffing the phones right now, you’ll get stories which literally go back 95 years. You know, people who’ve had experiences back in the 50s and 60s with their kids, or when they were kids and it sticks with you for your life. And it just says how important it is to have a world class children’s hospital in our state- in Melbourne, but you know, I come from Geelong- it actually services the whole of Victoria. And it really makes a big difference, which is why, you know, it’s such a joy and a privilege for me to be able to announce the government’s commitment today.
DOWSLEY: And so one more time- all down the barrel, the announcement is a donation from the feds of-
MARLES: $2 million!
FOWLER: Thank you!
ENDS