What we have discovered is that the sentiments of the appeal has not changed in the 110 years it has been operating.

Here is an extract from The Examiner from January 15, 1937:

“The Empty Stocking picnic at Gravelly Beach brought to a successful conclusion the programme incidental to The Examiner’s annual appeal for the brightening of Christmas in homes where but for this now well-established movement there would be little of the joy associated with the “festive season”. 

“Year after year the public subscribes liberally to the Empty Stocking Fund, …  £360 was available for distribution among charitable organisations for Christmas work … Also something like 1700 toys came into The Examiner office in response to that phase of our annual appeal … 

“The delight these distributions gave to a great many families where otherwise Christmas would have been merely a name is the best and happiest reward the subscribers could have or would expect for their generosity, and for ourselves we thank them for their kindness and co-operation in making the spirit of Christmas extend as widely as possible.

“It has always been a great source of pleasure to The Examiner to make this annual effort, and the support it has consistently received has been most gratifying.”

The donation of £369 would be equivalent to a little under $50,000 today.

This passage demonstrates two important points. Firstly, even after 110 years people in our community are still, at times, living a life with hardship. Secondly, the people in Northern Tasmanian are a generous and kind bunch.

We sincerely hope that you receive as much from this campaign as you can give. Whether it be reading the heartwarming stories of our local charities, attending events that help the Appeal or by donating knowing that any amount will have the power to change lives.