Community crew leader Nicole Cuzens said the school fund-raised throughout the day with a red velvet cupcake stall and senior pupils enjoyed a presentation on the Red Cross from Port Fairy unit volunteer Maureen Beattie and Koroit unit secretary Lyn Morgan-Payler.

“We support the Red Cross each year,” Ms Cuzens said. 

“This year we recognised it was their hundredth year since their formation.”

Ms Cuzens said the day was organised by Merrivale’s grade 6 community crew, raising $430.

“We decided to go all out, with the students dressed in red,” she said.

“Each classroom has done an activity either to do with the number 100 or the colour red.

“Over in the grade 2/3 area we made 100 hands.”

Mrs Beattie and Mrs Morgan-Payler took time out from volunteering to explain the role of the Red Cross in the south-west, Ms Cuzens said. Mrs Morgan-Payler said the blood bank in Warrnambool was an important part of the community, as well as other initiatives.

“We have patient transport,” Mrs Morgan-Payler said.

“There’s a volunteer co-ordinator who co-ordinates a number of drivers to take people to appointments in Melbourne. “That’s an ongoing and very important part of our work.”

Mrs Beattie has volunteered with the Red Cross for 23 years and said it also assisted during times of emergency. 

“In the event of a fire or something like that we purchase an outfit of clothing for each family, plus bed linen, toiletries just to get them going.

“In some cases it means school uniforms or work clothes, it depends on the situation.

“It’s a very worthwhile thing to do.” 

The Mortlake and Koroit units have been going since the Australian Red Cross’ formation in 1914.