For the second year running, the current Year 3 families decided that the boys could forgo the Easter Eggs they share with their classmates and instead, use that money to donate something to kids who might not have the best time this Easter. 

Donations were collected for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Play Therapy Team. The Department aims to minimise the stress and anxiety of hospitalisation and create positive experiences in hospital. They support children to cope better with illness and hospitalisation through the use of play, music, education and self-expression activities. Surprisingly, the team receives no funding for the resources that they use with patients. The little bit of sunshine that they bring to an otherwise monotonous and dreary hospital stay is priceless, especially for the long-term patients and their exhausted parents. 

The quantity of donations received this year went above and beyond what the department was expecting. Furthermore, the quality of what was donated was both in line with the Department’s “wish list” and of an exceptional standard. We received boxes and boxes of much needed Lego. We had tubs of play doh and so many art supplies. The often forgotten teenagers were well considered with mindfulness colouring in books, nail polish and beautiful writing sets. We also raised over $200 in various vouchers. The Year 3 boys signed a card to present to the Therapists, thanking them for their work and wishing them a Happy Easter. This was presented to the team by Joshua Cronin (3E), Aleksandar Petrovski (3S) and Adam Petrovski (KK).

The Department indicated that they will use these donations to give a birthday gift to children spending their birthday in hospital. They also use these new toys as inducements to entice these brave little patients to voluntarily undergo treatments that we can’t even turn our minds to and also as an added bonus when treatment milestones (such as the end of chemotherapy treatment) are achieved. There was also a wonderful assortment of pre-loved toys donated. These toys would be distributed and rotated between the playrooms on each ward.

The therapists took time out to speak to the Year 3 representatives and gave some insight into children in isolation, who either have a highly contagious disease or who need to be kept away from potential contamination. They explained how lonely those patients can get and how they have limited access to toys as any toys they use must undergo a sterilisation process both before and after they are used. We were told that these donations will really help with something new and exciting for these patients to pass the time.

All in all, it was such a successful donation drive and a true showing of Wyvern Spirit. 

Olimpia Petrovski
(Year 3 Parent)