Tag Archives: radio lollipop

Radio Lollipop opens at Monash Children’s Hospital in Melbourne

Posted on by

Monday the 25th of November 2013 will forever be an important date for Radio Lollipop, as it is the day Monash Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia celebrated their first official night on the wards! 

After 12 months of hard work in establishing the first Radio Lollipop in Victoria, Australia, nine very excited Radio Lollipop volunteers began their duties and took to the wards with huge smiles and great enthusiasm.

Although unable to connect to the Brisbane broadcast yet, the team entertained the kids with amazing crafts dreamed up by Mirjana (or Magic Matilda as she is now known), played games and distributed colouring books and activity sheets. Greg was able to make a two year old girl giggle from her tippy toes with his impromptu ukelele solo. Malisha made a boy ‘King of the Playroom’ with her crown-making prowess! Sian and Saloni came up with their Lollipop personas and Mike and Liv were impressed by Rushmi’s ruthless card skills.

Radio Lollipop Monash has commenced with a play program with the radio to be broadcast from Radio Lollipop Brisbane. We hope to have our own Radio Lollipop radio studio by mid 2014.

The Melbourne team are eager to volunteer to the best of their abilities, loving the one-on-one time with some seriously amazing children and their families and will do whatever they can to make the stay of a sick child in hospital much brighter. 

To the Executive Team at Monash Children’s Hospital in particular Dr Nick Freezer and Mr Andrew Williamson and your team, thanks for welcoming the Radio Lollipop family to Monash Children’s Hospital!

Purplena Supports Radio Lollipop in a ‘Fairy’ Special Event

Posted on by

Radio Lollipop Special Guest, Milana Tornatore, also known as Purplena the Face Painting Fairy, recently held a ‘fairy’ special event to launch her new book, ‘My Best Friend is a Fairy’. The gorgeous book is the first in a series of children’s books for young girls. For each book sold in the month of September, Purplena has kindly offered to donate a percentage to Radio Lollipop.

Purplena is a long-time friend of Radio Lollipop and has visited Radio Lollipop Gold Coast a number of times over the past few years. Purplena’s visits to the ward are always very special. Purplena not only brings beautiful face painting for the children to enjoy, but she has an ability to create an atmosphere to connect with each child and make them feel special. Purplena takes the time to talk to every child and sprinkle some ‘get well fairy dust’ to help them feel better.

Not only does she paint the children’s faces in the Radio Lollipop studio but she takes time to fly around the ward to paint the faces of children who are too unwell to get out of bed. This is a very positive experience for those who are often feeling so sick.

At the launch a $150 donation was presented to Radio Lollipop Director, Sandra Ursino OAM and Miriam Swanborough, a Radio Lollipop Volunteer, explained a bit about Radio Lollipop and Purplena’s very special visits to the wards at Gold Coast Hospital. ‘My Best Friend is a Fairy’ was presented to a number of young girls at the launch who Purplena has gotten to know over the years she’s been face painting at Dreamworld. One young girl uses a walking frame and Purplena told the beautiful story of how her Dad used to take her to Dreamworld to visit Purplena. All day he’d tell her, ‘I think Purplena is over here?’ or, ‘Maybe she’s over there?’ to get his daughter to walk the distance around the park to get her exercise for the day. Purplena was nowhere to be found until the end of the day when she got her special visit to Purplena as well as her face painted beautifully with the design of her choice. This was the highlight of her trip to Dreamworld and Purplena is truly making a difference in so many lives and we’re thankful she has chosen to share her talents and give some of her time to the children at Radio Lollipop too.

Congratulations on your new book Purplena and thank you so much for your ongoing support of Radio Lollipop – your love for the kids, your caring nature and your giving heart. We hope you will return to visit the children at Radio Lollipop as special guest soon, to colour up the ward and to sprinkle some more of your ‘get-well fairy dust’.

For more information about Purplena the Face Painting Fairy visit The Face Painting Company Website

To purchase ‘My Best Friend is a Fairy’ visit Amazon.com

Photo: L-R Sandra Ursino, Milana Tornatore and Miriam Swanborough

Radio Lollipop Gourmet Series – Annual Charity Fundraiser

Posted on by

We are very excited to be taking part in a series of intimate charity lunches/dinners spread throughout the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Tweed to raise much needed funds for Radio Lollipop in OCTOBER and we are hoping that you would consider supporting the cause by getting a group of friends together, coming along, eating well, drinking lots and having a ton of fun with us, all in the name of charity!  

Radio Lollipop has a goal of raising $500k to build radio stations and operate out of 3 major Queensland Hospitals in aid of bringing fun and hope to short and long term hospitalised children.  They are over half way to their goal already and we are hoping that the Gourmet Series can significantly build on their total.

We look forward to having a great day with you all!

To Book or for further information Call Di on 1300 338 486 or email Sandra Ursino on directorqld@radiolollipop.org 

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk visits Radio Lollipop Mater Children’s Hospital

Posted on by

The Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk and Lady Mayoress Mrs Quirk made a special visit to Radio Lollipop at the Mater Children’s Hospital recently to experience first hand the wonderful work of our Radio Lollipop Volunteers.

The theme for the Radio Lollipop Super Saturday Show was ‘Bugs’ and the Radio Lollipop studio and playroom was buzzing with volunteers and children making fabulous butterfly’s and crazy caterpillars.

15 year old Rheece was co-hosting the show with Radio Lollipop Volunteer Razzle Dazzle who interviewed the Lord Mayor asking all the very tricky questions. We found out the Lord Mayor is a bit of an ice cream fan and his favourite is honeycomb, we also found out that during the week he met Ricky Martin and Queensland’s own Luke Kennedy from The Voice.

The Lord Mayor also spent time making caterpillars with 5 year old Aaligah in the playroom.

Check out the photo of Rheece and Aaligah with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and the Super Saturday Team.