The Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walkathon is on around Australia this Sunday. Young Taj was born with Cystic Fibrosis. His grandfather John Mikkelsen writes:
HEROES have been on my mind a lot lately, with good reason.
No, I’m not talking about the new series of the award-winning TV show, which is fine if you’re into flying, time-travelling super heroes who can’t die.
I’m more impressed by real-life mortal heroes and I’ve seen a few examples lately. Last Sunday’s Great Race at Bathurst elevated the Ford combination of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup to that status in my eyes with their “three-peat” hat trick victory on the mountain.
It’s the first time that’s been done in 24 years and it is a fantastic achievement considering the very close competition that exists today.
But to me, the real heroes are much younger - too young to drive by far. I’m talking about the children in the hospitals’ cardiac or cancer wards, the little premmie baby battlers and those living with other possible life- threatening conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
And I guess I’m talking about my youngest grandson Taj, [ John & Taj pictured below] who was up visiting us with his Mum and Dad during the school holidays recently. It’s about 12 months since I last wrote about Taj, as he was approaching his first birthday.
This is what I said then:
“…. Nothing remarkable, except it’s a miracle little Taj Isaac Mikkelsen survived even his first day in this world. Taj arrived two months premature, a feat in itself, but within his first few hours he was back in the operating theatre for major surgery to repair a twisted bowel, which had been slowly robbing him of life in the womb.
It’s not all boots, utes and country music at Queensland regional town of Gympie.
While Gympie might be famous for it’s Country Music Muster that attracts 10’s of thousands of visitors from around the country, it does have a more gentler and philanthropic side.
Springtime at Springhalls held in the gardens of Gympie locals George and Kim Springhall last saturday has to be one of the most pleasant afternoons anyone could spend in the country.
The Springhalls opened their magnificent country home and gardens set on the banks of the Cedar Pocket dam to the public to raise funds for the tremendous local charity Little Haven Palliative Care.
The afternoon, a delight in the glorious country garden was attended by about 130 mostly local people with a sprinkling of in-the-know visitors from as far away as Brisbane.
The happy crowd seated across the manicured lawn was blissfully entertained by the Underground Opera Company who sang up an operatic and braodway storm from the front verandah of the meticulously restored Queenslander.
Fine food prepared on site in the gourmet kitchen was served by aproned waitresses accompanied by good champagne and drinks from the garden bar.
What a fabulous way to spend an afternoon in beautiful rural Australia. Mingling with great folks, listening to fine music wafting around manicure lawns and gardens, accompanied by fine food and wine was just a delight. All the while raising money for the betterment of the local community.
Photo below: Mesmerized by the Underground Opera performance is ‘host for the day’ George Springhall and the appreciative audience.
A highlite of the afternoon was the fund raising auction conducted by ex livestock agent and current Gympie Shire councilor Graham Engeman [pictured below]. Little Haven Pallitive Care is a tremendous local charity that cares for local terminally ill people.
The good folks of Gympie and surrounding districts through their financial support enjoy what is possibly the only completely free, in home 24 hour on call Palliative care service in Australia.
The day raised just on $10,000 thanks to the support of all who attended, those that volunteered their time and many various local business that donated their goods and services to the event.
Little Haven offers free 24 hour on call fully qualified nursing care with a full range of equipment that allows the terminally ill members of the Gympie community to stay at home with their families rather than be forced into a hospital environment.
Little Haven supports around 120 people and their families each year in their time of need and only exists through the generosity of the local community. The service only receives 20% of its funding for QLD health with the balance, about $250,000 a year raised by fund raisers in the local community.
Personally I’d like to thank George & Kim Springhall, Little Haven Business manager Sue Manton [pictured above with volunteers Diana Harris to her left and Little Haven founding member Phil Moran at back] and her wonderful band of volunteers for a beautiful afternoon in rural Australia.
Gympies Little Haven is a wonderful story of a community taking care of its own and only exists through the ongoing support of the community and the philanthropy of community leaders like George and Kim Springhall.
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Update: 1.54pm
Bruce Edwards Underground Opera Company next performance is at the Prophet Gold Mine at Kilkivan on the 26th and 27th of September. They are tremendous entertainers.
Have Your say!
Do you have a Charity in your community that makes it a great place to live? Why not let us know about it?
Last Saturday evening my son and I attended the charity event at Hamilton Hall for Little Haven Palliative Care and the Gympie Regional Smarter Choices Program.
Headlining the event was the enigmatic Wayne Bennett (pictured at the function) who League fans would have noted was coaching the NZ test team on Friday night, attended Broncos training on Saturday and still had the compassion and commitment to drive two hours to Gympie, to promote a charity.
He then had to drive back to Brisbane that night to coach the Broncos on Sunday.
Wayne endured the inevitable photo session and autograph hunting then engaged in an informative and witty, question and answer session before announcing the Gympie district Rugby League team of the century.
Before leaving the hall for the long drive back to Brissie he then addressed the crowd with a moving, thoughtful appeal for us all to get involved in community support programs, be they junior sport, palliative care or anything that helps our community and neighbours.
I think Wayne impressed all who attended with his calm, reserved, demeanour that obviously masks great intelligence and a mind that never stops racing with ideas Dare I say it,”still waters run deep”.
Rugby League Coaching Legend Wayne Bennett gives his time free to help a rural community.
Gympie QLD Location Map- Little Haven Palliative Care’s Sue Manton and Gympie Regional Smarter Choices Program coordinator Darren Burns have teamed up with legendary Rugby League Coach Wayne Bennett and the towns own renowned Artist Nikyla Amanda Smith to raise money to help the regions terminally ill and it’s youth.
Renowned Gympie artist Nikyla Amanda Smith is painting a portrait of Coach Bennett to be auctioned at Suncorp Stadium during Round 26, the last Broncos home game, in September. Proceeds from the sale will go to The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation to work wonders for sick kids. Nickyla is seen below with Coach Bennett in the first sitting for the portrait.
The long-standing Brisbane Broncos coach, who has announced 2008 will be his last year at the club, has guided the Broncos to six premierships since his appointment as Head Coach in 1988.
“It’s a real thrill to sit for a portrait and to know that the sale of my portrait will make the difference in a child’s recovery,” Wayne said.
“I’m happy to give my time to such a worthy cause.”
Nikyla has previously painted portraits of Shane Webcke and Broncos & Australian captain, five-eighth Darren Lockyer which was auctioned for $20,000 - all of which was donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation for ground-breaking paediatric research.
In recognising the work these two worthy organisations do in her home town of Gympie Nikyla is very generously donating the one of a kind pencil sketch she made of Wayne from the first sitting. This is the first time these initial drawings have been released and it will be up for auction on the night. The sketch seen below has been professionally framed courtesy of Gympie Custom Framing and should prove the evenings main auction draw card.
Shane Webcke portrait Auction:
See video of the Auction of Nikyla’s Portrait of Broncos legend Shane Webcke. All proceeds of that auction also went to the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Little Haven Palliative Care is a not for profit charity delivering in home specialised nursing care with 24 hour on call support and specialist equipment to patients with a life limiting disease at no cost to the patient.
It looks after patients all through the Cooloola & surrounding shires supporting approx 120 terminal patients per year and also provide cancer support and bereavement support to over 150 people each year, along with all the medical equipment and nursing supplies needed.
With only 30% of our funding coming from Qld Health we have a fundraising target exceeding of $240 000 each year to raise for the service.
Little Haven employs the services of specialist nurses and relies heavily on its volunteer base for patient, office and fundraising support along with community support of our fundraising ventures.
The Gympie Regional Smarter Choices Program promotes healthy living through education on
• Diet & Exercise
• Goal Setting
• Rising above peer group pressure
• Drugs and Alcohol
Funds raised will assist Gympie Co ordinator Darren Burns promote and run this program for local youths to develop their skills and encourage them to think about the choices they make.
At left is the contact details to book for the dinner, Bids are now being taken to sit at the main table with Wayne Bennett on the night or to place an advanced reserve on the framed sketch to be auctioned on the night. Anybody who wishes to do so should make prior arrangements with Sue Manton on o417736466.
To Print the booking form on the right, click on it and then print.
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