Doing It For The Kids

By Sarah Healey on December 6, 2011 in News

Photo: James Hutton

What have you got planned this Christmas? Maybe you’re driving up the coast to visit the nieces and nephews you only see about twice a year, or jetting off to Bali for that surfing trip you’ve been relentlessly saving up for over the past six months. Whatever you choose to do, Christmas more often than not involves letting your hair down and going a bit mad. Sadly, this time of year is the most trying for hundreds of families with kids who are living with an illness, spending their special day in hospital.

Mal Ward is one local dad who knows this scenario all too well, having lost his beautiful son Johnno to childhood liver disease in 2008 after bravely battling the condition for nine years. Mal witnessed many children and their siblings missing out on Christmas presents because their parents simply couldn’t afford them with all the time they had to take off work. This inspired him to establish Christmas Presents for Sick Kids, held annually in loving memory of Johnno. Last year over 800 presents were generously donated and in 2011 it’s anticipated that the community will pull together to donate over 1000 presents to this admirable cause, which is now in its fourth year. The gifts are divided up and personally dropped off to the kids at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospitals by Mal and an entourage of good mates.

If you would like to help put an enormous smile on a sick kid’s dial this Christmas, get along to the Charing Cross Hotel (81 Carrington Road, Waverley) on Sunday, December 18 from 3pm onwards and donate a gift or two to place under the Christmas tree. All you have to do is write the age group and gender that the gift is suited to, grab a beer and enjoy the day. There’ll be a DJ spinning some festive tunes and a free sausage sizzle at 5pm. Kids and families are more than welcome to attend. In fact, the ankle biters are encouraged to come along. According to Mal, a number of mums and dads approached him on the day last year delighted that their kids now understand the real meaning of Christmas, which is about giving to those in need.

“It’s a real learning opportunity for kids. Christmas is not just about receiving presents. There are less fortunate kids out there this time of year,” Mal said.

“The hospital always sends a little story of what a kid said when they received a present, so everyone gets to see what gets done – it’s more personal.”

December is the most hectic month on the calendar, so understandably you may have already made plans for December 18. But that’s not an excuse, nor a problem, as you’ll be able to drop off presents to the Charing Cross Hotel, to Mal himself, or to his good mate Erik De Haart, at any time from now until Wednesday, December 21. Erik’s more than happy to receive gifts at his Clovelly Taxation Services office, 17A Doncaster Avenue, Kensington. He’ll pop them under the tree on the night, creating a sea of magnificent bows and boxes that will surely make a little kid happy when waking up on Christmas morning.

Mal’s mission to help others has grown significantly over the years, and the Royal Standard Hotel in Melbourne is recreating the same event in memory of Johnno on Friday, December 16. So if you’re mates with any Mexicans, be sure to send them along with a couple of presents.

Mal is an inspirational bloke who is encouraging the community to open their hearts and bring a little joy to a sick boy or girl this year. If you’re unable to make it on the night but would still like to donate a gift, please contact Mal on 0414 293 396, email mal@greataussiebbq.com or call Erik on 0419 278 906.