Henley Homes and Villawood Properties have launched a Buy a Brick campaign in conjunction with the 2022 Good Friday Appeal Charity House.

All Victorians will be able to contribute towards the campaign by ‘buying’ a brick starting from as little as $5, with all money raised going to The Royal Children’s Hospital, on top of the proceeds of the Charity House auction.

People will be able to ‘buy’ a brick at Henley display centres and Villawood sales offices across the state, at the charity home in Sunbury, when completed in early 2022 and open for inspection, as well as online at the Charity House website.

The GFA Charity Home Auction has become one of Victoria’s most loved auction events and one of the biggest contributors to the Appeal each year. This year makes Henley’s 30th anniversary of involvement with the GFA, building the 43rd charity home for the 2022 no-reserve auction.

Henley Site Supervisor Billy Ferguson, 37, who spent more than 16 years as a patient at The Royal Children’s Hospital, and his two sons, Levi, 9, and Charlie, 7, helped launched the Buy a Brick campaign.

For Billy, who was born without a right leg, the Hospital was pivotal in creating a positive environment for him and his family, despite the challenges.

“With three surgeries from the age of two, as well as multiple prosthesis replacements, the Royal Children’s Hospital was with me all the way,” Billy said.

“I clearly remember feeling excited going in and changing my prosthesis. 

“Their support and care meant the world to me, and I was able to carry on with my life with sport and school because of that.  I am forever grateful.”

According to Mark Glenn, Henley Victorian Building Manager, the Buy a Brick campaign is a wonderful opportunity to extend on the charity home’s iconic no-reserve auction on Good Friday, by inviting more people to get involved in the Good Friday Appeal.  

“By introducing the Buy a Brick campaign, we are hoping to put the icing on the cake, donation-wise, for The Royal Children’s Hospital, on top of the proceeds raised from the charity home auction, which continues to edge towards the one million mark,” Mr Glenn said.

“The ‘Buy a Brick’ initiative is a valuable addition to the contribution the GFA Charity Home Auction makes to the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Villawood Properties Chief Executive Officer Alan Miller said.

“In the same way bricks are the building blocks of our industry, the bricks in this campaign will work as building blocks for The Royal Children’s Hospital to continue the world-class care it provides our sick kids,” Mr Miller said.

Rebecca Cowan, Executive Director, Good Friday Appeal says, “The Charity House has been a popular feature of the Good Friday Appeal since 1982 and we are very excited about the new ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign for 2022. This wonderful initiative will make it possible for more people to get involved and help raise funds to support patients and staff at The Royal Children’s Hospital. We thank everyone involved for their ongoing support.”