Newsletter 3, 2015 special lives

Welcome to Caring For Kyan our Spring The Scott family is the face of this year’s Piggy newsletter! Bank Appeal and they represent more than 900 families across Victoria who are supported by Very Special Kids.

Nine-year-old Kyan was born with a rare old twin sisters, Eloise and Maddison. genetic condition and a malformation Very Special Kids helps the Scott family of the brain that has caused regular, by providing specialised respite care for uncontrollable seizures since he was just Kyan at our children’s hospice, emotional two-months-old. He can’t talk, he can’t support and guidance for Robyn and walk and he requires one-on-one care and Matthew, as well as a trained home assistance with all his daily needs. volunteer to support Hayden, Eloise and Maddison. The level of care Kyan requires places additional challenges on his parents Robyn There are many ways that the community and Matthew and creates unique dynamics can fundraise for the Piggy Bank Appeal within the family, which also includes six- and help Very Special Kids care for families Children’s hospice year-old brother, Hayden, and three-year- like the Scotts. and family support Federal funding pledged to help secure future

Prime Minster Tony Abbott recently visited From the CEO to pledge $4 million in funding towards the purchase of the property Very Special Kids Through the generosity of our donors, Very Special Kids received enough income currently leases. in the year to be able to complete the planned increase and improvements to our services. In particular, we doubled the number of nurses we employ and opened two more beds in the hospice, which has shown almost 50% increase in occupancy. A substantial donation to our Future Fund also helped to secure the future of our ever popular Glen Osmond Farm at Woodend. There are still many challenges ahead as we seek to sustain this increased expenditure into future years in order to maintain our current service levels for families and children.

As we move into the new inancial year, the focus will be on sustainable growth that secures our future. The Executive Management Team has developed a number of strategic themes to underpin a new three-year Strategic Plan. This plan will provide the framework for directing future The funding will enable Very Special and grief. There is a critical need services, quality and safety in the hope Kids to negotiate with the Victorian for the services and support that of supporting more families, and helps to state government to secure the Very Special Kids provides Victorian deine our challenging fundraising needs. future of our hospice and family families.” support services in Malvern, where Very Special Kids continues to have strong we have been based for 21 years. “This funding will help provide relationships with government. We recently certainty for the children and welcomed a visit from Prime Minister Tony While negotiating the purchase families who rely on the services Abbott, who pledged $4 million towards of the property, Very Special Kids and support of Very Special Kids’ our negotiations with the Victorian state government to purchase our Malvern site. sought to secure new avenues of dedicated staf and volunteers,” the The recent upgrades to the hospice facilities funding, without having an impact Prime Minister said. and family accommodation means that on the ability to raise annual it is more important than ever that our operational funding. This pledge Ms Kelly O’Dwyer, Federal Member future is secured at this location. As we from the federal government for Higgins said Very Special Kids look to the future we hope to achieve a provides Very Special Kids with the helps families in the most diicult of greater proportion of recurrent government security to focus on raising the $7 circumstances. funding in order to support the ever million each year it costs to deliver increasing numbers of children and families our services. “I could not be more delighted that that need our help. the Coalition Government is able to Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that support the continued work of this Sarah Hosking, Chief Executive Oicer “children’s hospices do the work amazing charity, their volunteer team of angels. They are places of love and loyal donors,” Ms O’Dwyer said. and kindness during times of pain

02 vsk.org.au I would like to support Very Special Kids

My donation I would like to make a gift of:

$50 $100 $300 $1,000 Or my choice: $

My info Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Phone:

MasterChefs cook up a storm Mobile:

Email: MasterChef contestants Sam Gant and Julia Date of Birth: Taylor whipped up a cooking frenzy at during the recent Mates Weekend for girls. My payment A pantry of produce was provided pumpkin, grating nutmeg and rolling I would like to donate by cheque / by representatives of Fresh State out fresh pasta sheets. The inal result money order (payable to Very Special Kids) and the Wholesale Fruit - Pumpkin and Apple Tortellini with a OR please debit my credit card: Vegetable and Flower Market, who Burnt Butter and Sage sauce. are also raising money for Very Mates Weekends are designed to VISA Mastercard AMEX Special Kids through the ‘Market on bring children together who have the Move’ fundraiser. high cognitive ability and are facing Card Number: similar physical challenges. Very With all the produce ready for Special Kids also runs Mates on the preparation, the girls did the rest. Move Weekends for children that are Expiry: / Under the watchful eyes of Sam and very mobile and have developmental Signature: Julia, the girls were soon boiling and intellectual disabilities. Name on card:

Single donation

I authorise Very Special Kids to make automatic donations to this value from my credit card until further notice Safety first with Monthly Quarterly Annually new hospice slings Send to A grant from the Freemasons Charitable Foundation has allowed Very Special Kids Very Special Kids to purchase new slings for the hospice. This vital 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, Victoria, 3144 new equipment will ensure the safety of our hospice remains at the Phone: 03 9804 6222 highest level. Very Special Kids would like to thank the Freemasons Fax: 03 9822 1252 Charitable Foundation for this wonderful contribution.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

vsk.org.au 03 Fundraising News

Piggy Dates

Piggy Trails Tue 1 to Wed 30 Sep Our ive giant piggy bank trailers - Patrick, Penelope, Pepi, Pete and Princess - visit hundreds of towns and suburbs in all corners of Victoria to attend community events, collect donations and sell merchandise. Most of us had a piggy bank as a child to save for something really special. Our iconic piggy banks are just bigger versions of the same thing. Footy Fever Debate Thu 10 Sep, 7am to 9am MCC Members Dining Room, We are saving for children with Our ive iconic giant piggy banks Melbourne Cricket Ground life-threatening conditions and will once again take to our roads A highlight of both the corporate their families, who rely on the this September to raise a further and sports entertainment support of Very Special Kids. $1 million to support families calendars, this humorous and The Very Special Kids Piggy who are facing one of life’s most sometimes iery debate between Bank Appeal runs throughout diicult challenges. high-proile football personalities September and is a unique tackles the topic “Was footy fundraising campaign that brings You can get involved in the Piggy better back in the good old days?” together people from all parts of Bank Appeal in many diferent the community to raise funds for ways and there is a participation Very Special Kids. form on the inside back page of Special Lives.

Commonwealth Bank Very Special Day Fri 25 Sep Commonwealth Bank branches all across Victoria are holding a special day to show their support for the Piggy Bank Appeal. Get down to your local branch for a range of fundraising events and activities including sausage sizzles, cupcake stalls, staf dress ups, merchandise and other piggy-related activities.

04 vsk.org.au Sell piggy merchandise Display a piggy merchandise box full of bright colourful products during September on a sale-or-return basis. The full merchandise range is available to order separately in addition to the merchandise box.

I’d pay to see that Have staf pledge their support to see the Executive Management Team or your direct Manager dressed in one of the Very Special Kids pig suits for a meeting! Set a target of $500, all donations are tax deductible.

Collect donations with your very own counter pig Display one of our novel piggy bank collection receptacles or smaller collection tins on your shop counters, lunchroom or reception counter during the month of September.

Host a giant Piggy Trail stop Our ive giant piggy banks and volunteer crews are hitting the road in September to collect donations, sell merchandise and help you with your fundraising activities. If you would like a 700kg pig trotting up to your business, organise a fundraising activity and we will do the rest! Please register your interest now to secure your preferred date.

Hold a fundraising activity Fundraising events and activities are only limited by your imagination! Sausage sizzles, piggy-themed morning teas, casual dress days and head shaves are always crowd favourites. For more inspiration head to the Piggy Bank Appeal website at piggybankappeal.org.au

Have a Very Special Day at your school Raise money and help your students contribute funds towards caring for children with a life-threatening condition, their siblings and parents. You can link the day into the school program with a number of fun activities that feature pink and pigs.

vsk.org.au 05 Fundraising News

Shopping that’s good for the heart Special Dates

Major Events

Fashion Sale Fri 13 Nov, 5pm to 10pm Malvern Town Hall, Cnr Glenferrie Road & High Street, Malvern

Very Special Kids Fair Sat 21 Nov, 9am to 3pm Very Special Kids, 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern The Very Special Kids Fashion Sale in June saw shopaholics dig deep to snap up fashion bargains and give back to their community. Community Fundraisers The event raised $46,000 for Very Be sure to mark your diary for the Special Kids and featured clothing, next Very Special Kids Fashion Sale Run for Hills Fun Run shoes and accessories donated on Friday 13 November, 5pm to Sun 20 Sep from top brands and designers, on 10pm at the Malvern Town Hall. 4km and 10km course around sale at up to 90% of. Belgrave South The following weekend on run-for-the-hills.org Ahead of the event, three mums Saturday 22 November, the Very supported by Very Special Kids Special Kids Fair is the perfect Toby’s Golf Day were treated to a style session place to purchase Christmas gifts Tue 27 Oct, 11.45am with Very Special Kids Fashion Sale while enjoying a day of family Woodlands Golf Club, Mordialloc ambassador Jess Dempsey and fun. Held on the grounds of Very Call Penny 0416 004 075 GRACE Boutique in Toorak, who Special Kids from 9am to 3pm, the often donate their wares to the sale. Fair will feature live performances, as well as an animal petting farm, Lia Tan, Julie Odokeychuk and face painting, jumping castle and a Juliet Mainwaring enjoyed a special visit from Santa. morning that was all about them, starting with expert style tips from Alongside children’s entertainment Jess, a stylist and fashion blogger, there will be stalls selling and inishing with a whirlwind homemade cakes and preserves, makeover and photo shoot with quality toys and baby goods, Call-out for the Stonnington Leader. boutique wines, fresh lowers and plants, homemade Greek food, auction prizes Devonshire Tea and more. Live entertainment and an abundance Very Special Kids is looking for luxury prizes to be of food stalls will guarantee a great auctioned of at upcoming fundraising events. If day out for the whole family. you, your workplace or someone you know would like to contribute, please contact Sharon Stynes at 03 9804 6240 or [email protected].

06 vsk.org.au Very Special Kids would like to say a huge thank you to all the teams that participated

Team challenge raises $640,000 32 treadmills were kept in continuous motion for 24 hours and raised $640,000 for children in 24 hour care at Very Special Kids Hospice.

1,118 participants including celebrities, and far exceeded the event’s goal to The 24 Hour Treadmill Challenge was AFL players, politicians, staf and raise $500,000 through donations from made possible through the support of volunteers and families supported by friends and family. The Fitness Generation, True Fitness Very Special Kids joined forces to keep and Seven News. We would also like to the treadmills going and raise as much Top fundraisers included ALH thank all the teams who participated: money as possible. Group, who were the top fundraising organisation raising a total of $148,538, ALH Group - Ashwood School - Channel Seven’s House Rules and Ernst & Young who raised $67,378 BlackRock - City of Stonnington contestants Bronik and Corrine, footy to receive the top fundraising - CMC Services - Cummins - Epic players Leigh Montagna and Grant treadmill award. Pharmacy - Ernst & Young - Essendon Birchall, Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr Football Club - Guild Group - Hall & and State Member for Malvern Michael Very Special Kids CEO Sarah Hosking Wilcox - Heartfelt - JBWere - Jellis O’Brien, all jumped on a treadmill to says she’s astounded by the support Craig Foundation - NAB - Northern motivate and entertain participants. from the community. “The funds raised Trust Company - Paccar - St Kevins - ensure we can continue to care for Team Avah - Telstra - Toyota - Toyota By the end of the 24 Hour Treadmill children with life-threatening conditions Financial Services - Tuppence’s Trotters Challenge participants had covered and their families. We’re extremely - Vital Oice - Whitbread. 5,771 kilometers, guzzled 576 litres of grateful for everything everyone has water, listened to more than 500 songs achieved,” she said.

Proudly supported by

vsk.org.au 07 Family News

Diary Dates Mon 24 to Sat 29 August Adolescent Siblings Camp Mittagundi Valuable volunteers Thu 3 September Bereaved Parent Evening As part of the services provided by Very Malvern Special Kids, Family Support Volunteers Wed 23 & Wed 30 September are available to assist your family in a Sibling Days Malvern number of diferent ways.

Thu 1 October Bereaved Sibling Day Malvern

Sun 4 October Gippsland Family Day Gumbuya Park

Tue 6 October Bereaved Mum’s Lunch Shepparton

Fri 9 to Sun 11 October Lord Somers Camp Somers

Sun 11 October Remembrance Day Malvern Town Hall

Thu 15 October Creating Memories Volunteers can help you in your One example is when we Malvern family home, when your child recently linked a new volunteer, is admitted to hospital, when Yasmine, with a family to help Sun 15 November your child is at Very Special Kids care for twelve-year-old Josh. Ulysses Day Hospice and by participating Josh and Yasmine share an Cardinia Reservoir Park in program activities, such as appreciation for Manga, which Sibling Days. are Japanese comics. They hit Fri 6 November it of like two peas in a pod and Hume Bereaved Parent Every volunteer completes the resulting smiles are priceless. Group 27 hours of training to equip Sun 22 November them with the skills and If you would like a volunteer to Family Christmas Party knowledge needed to support help your family, please contact Malvern families who have a child with your Family Support Worker a life-threatening condition. or the Family Support Team Thu 26 Nov Volunteers are then carefully Volunteer Coordinator, Nathan Creating Memories matched with families based on Brown, on 03 9804 6206 or Malvern the best it. [email protected]

08 vsk.org.au Helping children with cancer

The families of children with brain tumors, leukemia and all childhood cancers can receive inancial assistance from Kids with Cancer Foundation.

Kids with Cancer Foundation has The Foundation can assist families Lyndell Farha said her daughter provided over $17 million to ten who have children under the age Hanna is “absolutely loving her new Australian children’s hospitals and of 13 years of age with access bike and riding it on the local bike families to date, including Very to hospital treatments, pay for tracks. Please pass on our sincere Special Kids. Families supported mechanical repairs, car registration thanks to the Kids with Cancer by Very Special Kids have received and insurance, utility bills, rent, Foundation for their generosity in approximately $25,000 in inancial mortgages, accommodation, school funding the bike and giving Hanna assistance in the past year and you fees and tuition, whitegoods and the opportunity to get out and about can contact your Family Support funeral expenses. Families are very and work on regaining her health.” Worker about how your family can grateful to receive the support to receive support. reduce inancial stress.

School holiday fun at the hospice Children staying at Very Special Kids Hospice in the school holidays enjoyed a range of activities, performances and an excursion to a show.

Painting was undeniably the most crafts activities included making egg in Malvern. After the performance, popular of all the arts and crafts head shakers, bead drums, tin drums, there was the opportunity to meet the activities with all children exploring crocodile castanets and clappers and cast, who showed the children their their creativity. Svetlana from The Art photo frames out of old vinyl records. costumes and accessories and posed Cabriolet helped the children with the for group photos. iner details of their artwork and took Passionate performances were also photographs of what was created. a highlight of the holiday program. Operated four times each year by African drummers visited the hospice Very Special Kids Hospice, the School While many art pieces were taken and entertained the children with their Holiday Program ensures that children home with the children, there are lively and skillful shows. On an excursion with life-threatening conditions have still a number of fabulous works on away from the hospice, the children access to activities and outings in a display at the hospice. Other arts and saw engaging pantomime performance safe and controlled environment.

vsk.org.au 09 Family News

Melbourne Ice faced of against had a ball and a lot of laughs. We had Family fun Bears in the annual match so much fun that we’ll be passionate to raise $1,700 for Very Special Kids. fans from now on!” at classic A highlight of the match was an fundraiser opportunity for the crowd to throw The Canada Day Classic is a teddy bears on to the , which fundraising event organised by the resulted in over 200 furry friends Canada Club of Victoria, sponsored Families enjoyed a day being donated to families supported by Air Canada and supported by of ice skating and teddy by Very Special Kids. Melbourne Ice and Medibank . bears at the annual A number of families attended the Canada Day Classic event and had a great time ice skating. Families who would like a teddy bear event at Ami shared her experience “Thanks to take home can contact their Family for inviting us to try ice skating last Support Worker. Medibank Icehouse. weekend. My son Cody and I really

Say hello to Skype

Family Support Workers have turned Skype can be downloaded for free television with Skype on it. Ideally, to technology to provide families and you will need a device with you would want to set up a private with greater access to counselling camera and sound and access to space in your own home for the call and emotional support services. data or internet with reasonable so you can talk freely. download speeds. There is no Video counselling through cost to use Skype other than using Families are encouraged to discuss Skype is one way that Very some of your data or internet with their Family Support Worker Special Kids is overcoming the download within your current about connecting through Skype to challenge of regularly connecting contract with your internet service make sure it is a suitable approach with over 900 families across or phone provider. for your family. You can also choose Victoria. Skype’s features are like to have some sessions on Skype and teleconferencing, so you can both You can use Skype on whatever some in person, depending on your see and hear your counsellor in device works best for your family individual counselling or emotional real time. – on your phone or computer or a support needs.

Phone 03 9804 6222 | Fax 03 9822 1252 Freecall Email [email protected] | 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, Vic, 3144 1800 888 875 Regional oices in Ballarat, Brunswick, Hastings, Shepparton, Website and Torquay, Traralgon and Warrnambool ABN 86 109 832 091 Children’s hospice online donations Design: Make It Happen. Printing: Advent Print Media. and family support vsk.org.au Photography: Gavin Blue, Sarah Anderson, Kerry Pryor. Feed our Piggy Bank Appeal participation form piggy banks Please complete details and return to Very Special Kids by fax 03 9804 6229 or email [email protected]

Full name Position

Company name

Address (not PO Box)

Suburb Postcode

Email Phone

Please select all the ways you would like to get involved in the Piggy Bank Appeal from the activities listed below:

Yes, we would like to hold a fundraising event/activity. Please outline proposed fundraising event/activity – please attach separate sheet for more room.

Date of event Type of event/activity

Yes, we would like to have a giant piggy trailer visit our organisation as part of our event. NB: Subject to availability and fundraising target

Yes, we will display a Counter Pig collection unit to collect funds. Please send me (Qty) Units

Yes, we will display single use collection tins to collect funds. Please send me (Qty) Units

Please select all items required to support your fundraising event/activity:

Brochures A3 event posters

Very Special Kids will endeavour to promote all events at piggybankappeal.org.au and other electronic outlets Yes, we would like to dress up the Manager or local personality in a pig suit NB: Subject to minimum fundraising target of $500

Date of event Date suit required

A representative from Very Special Kids will be in contact on receipt of this participation form. Thank you for supporting the Piggy Bank Appeal.

Oice use only: Very Special Kids, 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern VIC 3144 Date Received Phone 9804 6241 Email [email protected] Donor ID piggybankappeal.org.au Trails Merchandise Events DONATE NOW!

Feed our piggy banks to help children with life-threatening conditions. piggybankappeal.org.au