Wishing Tree 2025 Thank you night. 
 

To complete another Successful Christmas wishing tree Appeal 2025, On Tuesday the 24th, the business and supporters of the Appeal convened, at Club Meeting, at Sporting Globe, where each was formally thanked for their support.  

And we heard from Heidi, Luke, and Wendy, on how the gifts donated were a relief to the parents seeing their children open on Christmas Day

25/02/2026, 16:39 A wonderful Wishing Tree effort celebrated | Lilydale Star Mail

 

The Rotary Club of Lilydale’s Wishing Tree continues to extend its branches year by year to bring Christmas cheer to more families in need.

Supporters gathered for a celebratory dinner at The Sporting Globe in Chirnside Park on Tuesday 24February, including the chance to hear from guest speakers who helped distribute gifts near and far.

After welcomes from the MC for the night, Rotarian Arun Marappan, Rotary Club of Lilydale President Cheryl Mackay opened the evening and said in 2025, they ran the Wishing Tree for the fifth consecutive year and it has grown into something that genuinely changes lives.

“Because of you, your customers and people connected to your businesses donated new gifts and gift cards throughout the month and because of that generosity, rotary was able to collect an extraordinary number of gifts and pass them to organisations to support children in foster care, families experiencing financial hardship and simply could not afford Christmas presents, people experiencing homelessness and those doing it tough in our community,” she said.

“Without your support, this appeal would not exist, it’s that simple, the vast majority of you have been with us since the very first year and the level of loyalty and commitment says so much about the kind of businesses you run and the values you stand for, you don’t just operate with this community, you actually actively care for it.

“What makes this appeal so powerful is that it is a truly community effort, Rotary coordinates it but you make it visible, you give it credibility, you give your customers and people in your community the opportunity to give, every gift placed in those boxes represents a moment of kindness, you make those moments possible.”

While Ms Mackay was hesitant to single out any particular efforts due to the wonderful contributions from all involved, there was a special appreciation for Heather Telford who handmade almost 300individual items, including clothes, quilts and doll sets in equally beautiful gift bags and stockings throughout the year. She also made items for another Rotary initiative, Wheelchairs for Kids.

Anchor chief executive Heidi Tucker got up next to speak and said her mission was to give attendees an insight into what makes their efforts so special and show just how important the presents are to families in need.

“Sarah, a single mother with four children who all deal with different disabilities, they were plunged into homelessness after experiencing significant family violence… I see them at our Christmas party every year and I watch the children growing up and I know that I’ve watched them growing up in unstable housing and not their forever home but the children receive presents from you all and in particular, the nine-year-old daughter has really taken to the doll and pram she received and she thanks you all very much for that,” she said.

“We have a dad who supports his three primary school-aged children and they received board games and puzzles, he said that Christmas is a really hard time for them as they don’t have any family around them to support them but the presents help the children to be able to play and laugh and create really great family memories.

“There’s a family of five who are facing eviction and homelessness right before Christmas and the parents didn’t know how they were possibly going to be able to afford a private rental, let alone to be able to put Christmas presents under the tree but for this family, a bag of gifts for each of the three young children allowed the mother to provide a normal Christmas.”

Anchor and the Lilydale Proactive Policing Unit have been long-time recipients of the gifts from The Wishing Tree but as the initiative has grown, more and more organisations have been supported, including Anglicare, Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service, Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Uniting, Shop 16 in Mooroolbark, Safe Steps, food items for the Community Cupboard at Lakeside Kindergarten and Child Care Centre and the Mooroolbark Police and Lilydale Police domestic violence room.

Leading Senior Constable of the Lilydale Proactive Policing Unit Luke Egginton said many of the disadvantaged families they engage with are often experiencing negative, stressful, or traumatic circumstances and being able to connect with them in a positive and meaningful way is vital for strengthening the relationship between police and the community.

“Seeing the incredible generosity and kindness from our community each year is truly something special, policing can take a toll on mental health and projects like this give officers the chance to do something positive and uplifting,” he said.

“When Anne and Gerry (van Horick) mentioned there were a few more gifts again than last year, again, Kate and I underestimated what that meant, and arriving at their home and seeing the sheer volume of toys left both Kate and I speechless again, the generosity shown by the local community and local businesses was absolutely remarkable.”

The police distributed gifts through Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation, Uniting, Boorndawan Aboriginal Healing Service, Holy Fools’ Felix House, Each, the Lilydale Motor Inn, community housing residents, Montrose Community Cupboard, local caravan parks, local schools and individual families known to police.

Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence said the Wishing Tree is a legacy for Anne and Gerry van Horick for the community.

“I know for Rotarians, it’s about service above self, and Rotarians in true fashion are serving our community, they don’t always look for praise, they love volunteering, they love making their community a better place and you’ve done absolutely that, Ann and Gerry, and all of the Rotarians,” she said.

“It’s so wonderful that we’re all able to gather those gifts and donate those gifts so that young people can experience the joy of Christmas because it is a joyous time, and even if they are on hard times and it’s challenging, they get to have that joy.”

The 2025 Wishing Tree is a bittersweet one as Anne and Gerry van Horick are set to step down from leading the initiative for the first time since its inception, though they were awarded a certificate of recognition for their efforts. They will still be involved, but it won’t be their garage stocked to the brim with presents in 2026.

Director of Crisis Response and Residential Services at Safe Steps Wendy Duff also got up to say a few words at late notice, sharing how the presents made their way from Lilydale to their office in North Melbourne to be distributed statewide to families fleeing family violence.

The event was concluded by handing out certificates to all the businesses and organisations who contributed.