Our fine team of volunteers, along with hospital staff, local firemen and ambulance man, visited the wards at Birmingham Children’s Hospital on Christmas morning with Santa. Every child received a gift from Radio Lollipop care of Father Christmas. A fine time was had by all!

Radio Lollipop Gold Coast would like to send a special Christmas thank you to all our Special Guests and Supporters of 2011.

Bunning’s have visited every fortnight, sending talented craft volunteers to teach the children at Radio Lollipop how to do a large range of fun crafts. They have also allowed us to have fundraising BBQs at each of their four Gold Coast warehouses throughout the year. We would also love to thank Coles Supermarket for donating sausages for our Bunning’s Fundraising BBQs. At the Burleigh Bunning’s BBQ we raised an amazing $1910. These BBQs are vital in continuing to supply the children with craft and other important resources to make their stay in hospital a positive experience.

We’ve had very generous donations of prizes for our Monthly Competition from Yatala Drive In, Putt Putt Mini Golf, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Mark Richardson Surf School and Australia Zoo. Patients can enter when they’re on the ward throughout the month and the competition is drawn at the end of each month. We hope all our winners have had fun and are feeling a lot better.

We had a lovely Christmas gift for the children at Radio Lollipop from Chelsea Brown who likes to donate to a different charity every Christmas. A mother herself she chose extremely well. There were many games including Connect 4, Guess Who, Snakes and Ladders, UNO and a large range of puzzles. Toys included a couple of Bratz Dolls and My Little Pony. Colouring books, word find books and other activity books were also included in this very generous donation. These games and toys are for our studio at Gold Coast Hospital so they won’t just be used by one child but by hundreds who come through the Paediatric Ward each year. Thank you so much Chelsea. We wish you a very merry Christmas and happy 2012.

We’re always in need of easy two player games, puzzles, craft supplies, toys and colouring books so if you would like to donate please contact your local Radio Lollipop via the contact page on our website. If you’re at the shops and see something fun on special why not get it for children in hospital this Christmas or throughout the year. (Due to infection control all donations must be brand new).

Thank you to all of our Gold Coast volunteers, the staff at Gold Coast Hospital, GC Suns, GC United, Bunning’s Warehouse, Coles Supermarket, McKenzie Comer and family, Lauren from Hi-5, Purplena the Face Painting Fairy, our Adopt-a-Cops Kylie and Dave, Bert and Don Magic Mayhem, Vision Gym Runaway Bay, Juice 107.3, Miami State High School, GC Show, Burleigh Masonic Bowls Club and all of our Lollipop Day supporters Robina Town Centre, Pacific Fair, Australia Fair, Circle on Cavill and Runaway Bay Shopping Centres. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year.

‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ echoed down the corridors of the Paediatric Ward at Gold Coast Hospital as Santa and some of his helpers from Bunning’s and Radio Lollipop made their way to visit the children in the days leading up to Christmas. It seems Santa has been doing some renovations at the North Pole with the help of Bunning’s with his helpers bringing Bunning’s helium balloons and Bunning’s Teddy Bears for all the children.

Santa in his big red suit, black boots and snowy white beard brought a huge sack of presents for the children in the ward. Not only did he bring presents but brought a smile and some Christmas joy to every child. A few children had broken arms so Santa kindly helped them open their gifts. As he was visiting a small twelve week old baby she tried to tug his beard but he quickly explained to the other children around it was attached. He also asked them what else they were hoping for over Christmas. One girl with a broken arm caused by falling off a trampoline asked for a skateboard. Santa wasn’t so sure that was such a good idea considering the circumstances!

NBN Gold Coast News came to do a feature so they captured Santa visiting the ward and was shown on the local news that evening.

Bunning’s are such a great support to us at Radio Lollipop. Bunning’s Volunteers have visited every fortnight this year, sending talented craft volunteers to teach the children at Radio Lollipop how to do a large range of fun crafts. They allow us to have fundraising BBQs at each of the four Bunning’s stores on the Gold Coast every few months. Our Burleigh BBQ on Dec 3rd raised an amazing $1910. They have donated craft supplies and colouring pencils for our activity packs for the kids and have special connections with Santa and the Easter Bunny so they organise the two to come up at Christmas and Easter.

We hope all the Bunning’s staff and volunteers who help out Radio Lollipop have a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to more Bunning’s craft nights and visits in 2012.

The gorgeous young McKenzie Comer graced us with her presence singing Christmas Carols again at Radio Lollipop Gold Coast Hospital in the days leading up to Christmas. It’s hard to believe this girl is only 15 with such a beautiful voice. She started by singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, an ABBA song and a special dedication to the patients, Butterfly Fly Away by Miley Cyrus. It was a beautiful moment to watch. After singing, McKenzie spent some time in the studio playing Connect 4 with little Matty, doing some art with Candice and Tameka and having a chat to Destany. The children will be sure to treasure their signed posters from McKenzie.

McKenzie has been performing from a young age and began singing for the elderly in Aged Care Centres after a great experience singing for her great grandparents. She has been visiting and performing for the children at Radio Lollipop for over two years now. She has also visited and performed with friend and performer, Cody Simpson on a number of occasions. McKenzie sang at Robina Town Centre on our annual Lollipop Day on October 29.

The beautiful young talent has her first album due to be released early 2012. You can visit her website www.mckenziecomer.com, find her on Facebook or see her music videos on Youtube. Thank you for your loyal commitment and your caring heart for the children at Radio Lollipop. We look forward to many more visits in 2012. Have a very Merry Christmas.