The Royal Exchange Hotel Cork Club began in 1973. The stories have probably been lost a little with time, but it appears three patrons were having a beer in the main bar at the Royal Exchange Hotel. Two of the blokes had a bet, with the loser having to donate the money to the Children’s ward at the local hospital. When the donation was declined, they decided to donate the money to the Royal Children’s Hospital. From these humble beginnings a tradition was born.

Every year since then the Royal Exchange Hotel Cork Club has raised funds for the G.ood Friday Appeal supporting the Royal Children's Hospital. The club has been a regular winner of the Premier Fundraising Hotel and the leading Country (non-metro) Fundraising Hotel. Whilst these competitions are no longer in place the REH Cork Club is still raising fund every year

Many changes have taken place as the years rolled on. New members joined, many departed to pursue other interests. Some stayed a short time, while others spent almost a lifetime assisting the Royal Exchange Hotel Cork Club raise funds for this worthy cause. Even the ways the REH Cork Club raised money has evolved over the years. From Dinner Dances, World Record attempts, Car Rallies, Santa visits, Auction nights, Games nights and more through to BBQs, Craft Markets, Roadside Collection activities, Raffles, the REH Cork Club has always been one of the most diverse groups in the way they raise funds.

We also have wonderful support from local groups, such as Latrobe Valley Street Machiners with their StrEATcars and Foodtrucks event; Our Kinda Country with their Country Music event in Flanagan’s; and local schools with casual dress days.

Give us an idea (legal) and we will have a go!

Originally, members used to carry a cork (the ones from old port bottles that had a plastic top to them - they then cut the cork part off and attached a number using a label printer). Members would need to keep their cork on them at all times - otherwise they could be fined (20 cents in those days) which would go in the collection tin the next time they were at the pub. We stopped doing this about 15 to 20 years ago for two reasons. The corks became too hard to get, and the pubs don't have the same public bar crowd anymore. In the early days the club would have had a couple of hundred members, in the mid-1990s it was about thirty, and these days it is about ten members

Milestones

1973 Raised $215.40

1977 Raised $14,003.40 (first time past $10,000 in one year)

1982 Passed the $100,000 mark

1986 Raised $44,150.04 (a record at that point)

1987 Raised $58,689.44 (a new record)

1987 Passed the $250,000 mark

1994 Passed the $500,000 mark

2000 Passed the $750,000 mark

2002 Raised 70,401.78 (a new record)

2004 Rotary Club Award

2004 Raised $75,957.30 (a new record)

2004 Passed the One Million dollar mark

2011 Passed the $1,500,000 mark

2012 Latrobe City Community event of the year - Good Friday Family Fun Day

2008 Raised $106,356.15 ( a new record)

2018 Passed the $2,000,000 mark

2023 Fifty years of the REH Cork Club raising funds for the Good Friday Appeal