A Keilor community group that raised more than half a million dollars for the Good Friday Appeal is disappointed by a Brimbank council ban on tin-rattling at busy street corners because of road safety concerns.
Lyn Pickering, secretary of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria’s western branch, said the branch had been a major player in the club raising $545,624.65 over the past 32 years.
She said the council had banned all collecting on busy street corners in November, 2014, then had granted permits to do so last year. Now the permits were no longer available.
The club has a long tradition of tin-rattling across Brimbank, including at the intersections of Keilor Park Drive and the Calder Freeway; Ballarat and Station roads; and Ballarat, Anderson and McIntyre roads.
“I’ve collected for the past 28 years,” Ms Pickering said. “The club has collected for 32.
“We are very disappointed. To the best of my knowledge Brimbank is the only one not allowing corner collections. We are not the only ones displaced for Good Friday; there are several other organisations. It’s a pity that SES and the Salvos will be affected, as we are all volunteers,” she said.
“It’s iconic; everybody donates to the Good Friday Appeal.”
Good Friday Appeal deputy director Emoke Bakacs described the council’s ban on busy roadway collections as a “disappointment”.
Council’s city development director, Stuart Menzies, said the decision was based on advice from Victoria Police and VicRoads.
“Charities who wish to collect donations in Brimbank can do so at other places, such as shopping centres and railway stations,” he said.
