Queensland reds show their support

In April 2007 the QR Queensland Reds kindly donated to Radio Lollipop Gold Coast a players jersey signed by the 2007 team. This jersey will be mounted and framed to raise funds via a charity auction or raffle.

During the Super 14 season some of the Queensland Reds players have also been involved in lending their voices for Radio Lollipop messages.

We would particularly like to say a big thank you to Luca Liussi (Team Manager) for organising the signed jersey and to the following players, Clinton Schifcofske, Caleb Brown, Rodney Blake and Berrick Barnes, for their awesome recordings. Their recordings will hit our airwaves soon.

We wish the Reds players all the best during the upcoming Australian Rugby Championship and good luck to any players who make the Wallabies. We’ll be watching the World Cup with interest.

Easter eggstravaganza

Easter Sunday saw the annual arrival of about 1000 bikers to the hospital, each with their own style and décor. From Easter bunnies to gorillas, they were all there and kindly donated thousands of Easter eggs for the children. Radio Lollipop were, of course, there to capture the event and in the only way they know how, captivate and entertain the bikers, children, all the families and visitors. This years highlights included the Cha Cha slide, as performed by some of the bikers and the drummer from the Led Zeppelin tribute band. The dances ended with Black Lace’s ‘The Musicman’ where special thanks has to go to Fraser Todd for his excellent dancing!

One hundred radio lollipop volunteers are bringing smiles to children at great ormond street hospital

More than 100 Radio Lollipop Volunteers are now working at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children – bringing their special brand of Care, Comfort, Play and Entertainment to the young patients – both on the wards and in the tube carriage studio.

The first Radio Lollipop Volunteers were trained and on the wards in August 2005 – providing a play service ahead of the studio being operational in April 2006. The official launch last June saw more than 50 trained Volunteers – and now that number has doubled with fourteen or more of the GOSH wards seeing Radio Lollipop bringing fun games and giggles.

Sunday March 11 saw the first Radio Lollipop teams providing weekend help on the wards and live music and competitions from the studio. The aim is to recruit a further 100 Volunteers so that much appreciated play activities can be across all 21 GOSH wards several nights a week and at weekends too.

Commenting on the 100 Volunteer mark Radio Lollipop Chairman and Life President Hedley Finn MBE said:

“Radio Lollipop now has more Volunteers at Great Ormond Street than at any one of the other 20 Stations in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. I take my hat off to our Honorary Chairman Andrew Kendall and his very dedicated team.

Radio Lollipop Management Teams are all Volunteers too. We have no paid staff and everyone has to hold down their own day job while helping us out in the evenings. As well as two hours a week actually with the children on the wards, the Volunteer also handle all the recruitment and training processes. Obviously, the hospitals help too and we are honoured to be working with the wonderful team at Great Ormond Street – who give us excellent support and facilities.”

Magic training wows volunteers

Recently some volunteers at Radio Lollipop Great Ormond Street were able to particpate in a Magic training session made available to volunteers.

Organised by Magic Mondays volunteer Steve Morris, the volunteers learned card, rope and sleight of hand tricks. “These skills will really enhance our play service on the wards”.”It will really make our Magic Mondays – magic” added Steve.