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Seymour church is Ruffy’s miracle on Good Friday

By Billie Davern

Apr 7, 2026

The Easter Bunny and its guard dog presented eggs to the crowd. Photo: Wayne Herring. Photo by Wayne Herring

After the January bushfires tore through Ruffy, doubt shrouded the community over whether an enduring Good Friday event would be delivered.

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But a Seymour church has ensured that this Good Friday was the very best.

For nearly 20 years, the Ruffy Fire Brigade has hosted the community event to fundraise for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal, having amassed and donated more than $35,000 in this time.

The Longwood bushfire took almost everything from the community when it roared through the town on January 8.

It left the main township with just the CFA building and hall standing.

Central Church Pastor Daniel Sanders and Ruffy Fire Brigade community safety officer Felicity Sloman. Photo: Wayne Herring. Photo by Wayne Herring

As a result, the community’s resources were depleted, but when Central Church caught word of the event and that this year its delivery was up in the air, volunteers from Seymour and surrounds stepped up.

Pastor Daniel Sanders said the church found out about the event after delivering loaned generators to the Ruffy community in the week after the fire.

He said he decided to get involved after speaking on the importance of regularly bringing the community together.

Central Church volunteer Bob Menadue and Ruffy Fire Brigade member Theo Lagarde stand beside a cooker donated by the Rotary Club of Broadford, which will replace one lost in the fires. Photo: Wayne Herring

“I spoke to a friend of mine who led a church that was involved with the Kinglake community after Black Saturday. They ran community events for those affected that were only interrupted by COVID, 11 years later,” he said.

“So, I had in my mind that these connections were important.

“When (Ruffy Fire Brigade community safety officer) Flick (Sloman) mentioned their event and the potential challenges that might be presented in running it this year, we saw an opportunity to help in a really meaningful way.”

As part of its recovery work, which began with the provision of loan generators and emergency Airbnb accommodation for fire-affected communities, Central Church supported and funded the Ruffy event.

Central Church came through with a huge team of volunteers. Photo: Wayne Herring

“Good Friday is perhaps the most reverent day on the church calendar,” Mr Sanders said.

“We would normally contribute significantly to the combined churches’ Good Friday service in Seymour, but when we were presented with the opportunity to serve the people of Ruffy, we revisited what this day means to us.

“It’s a day we remember that God gave His son for us, that Jesus gave his life for us. It’s a day of giving and extravagant generosity, and we remember that great things come from sacrifice.

“So, in the end, it made sense to us that we would extend this generosity to the people of Ruffy in their time of need to help them celebrate Easter in the way that they normally would.”

Vicky Hamilton from Fast Brew Coffee ensured attendees were well caffeinated. Photo: Wayne Herring

About 200 people attended the community lunch, enjoying fish and chips cooked by the Salvation Army, music from local talent Georgie Ulrich and hot cross buns provided by Bakers Delight.

Attendees also enjoyed a coffee van, jumping castles and an Easter egg hunt.

Ruffy Fire Brigade’s community safety officer Felicity Sloman said the event restored the community’s “faith in humanity” in a world which felt “chaotic, battered and bruised at the moment”.