December 5, 2024 • 5 mins
'Wish Granting Manager' Courtney Smith from the Starlight Children's Foundation joins Clairsy & Lisa to talk about giving some joy through granting wishes to the kids that have to spend Christmas in hospital this year.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Starlight is aiming to raise one point one million dollars
with their Christmas appeal this year. And to tell us more,
Starlight's wish granting manager. How's that for.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
A job t shall put it on your card.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
That's got to make you smile every day. I am
the wish granting manager, Courtney Smith as whether Hello, Courtney,
Welcome Courtney.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Hi, thanks so much for having me. And it's very
very very lucky to have that as my job titled.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
That's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So first of all, just tell us about Starlight. How
the Starlight Foundation works.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Sure, Starlight and exists because happiness matters. We know here
at Starlight that when a child is diagnosed with a
serious illness, life as they know it is all of
a sudden turned upside down. Their days become filled with stress,
and unfortunately the fear of painful treatments and their ability
to be happy is really significantly impacted. We know here
(00:55):
at Starlight that happiness is just so so important. It's
the strongest determinant of how we perform later in life.
And so our vision here at Starlight is for every
child to experience a happy childhood, and we do that
by providing moments of fun, joy and laughter to Serious
Deal children and their families in hospital through various programs
(01:17):
like our Captain Starlight program and the Starlight Express Rooms,
but also through graining wishes which bring an incredible gift
of happiness and hope as well.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Beautiful, you're talking about a goal of one point one million,
How many wishes would you get from that? Does it
depend on the industry?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yes, yes, that's right. So this festive season, Starlight Children's
Foundation is calling on the community to help us bring
much needed joy the Serious Deal children and we are
aiming to raise one point one million during now Christmas
Appeal this beested season and that will help us bring
happiness and joy to the Serious Deal children right across Australia,
(01:51):
including our wonderful Pert Children's Hospital, and it will help
us also to grant four hundred and ninety eight which
is this year. So definitely need the help of the
community to help us to continue to bring that joy
and can jump on to Starlight dot org dot au
right now and up until the twenty fourth of December
(02:12):
and any donation big or small is just so truly
appreciated and needed. The programs keep growing, the need keeps
growing and definitely need the help of the community. So
Starlight dot org dot au is where you can go
and help us see spective seasons throughout Christmas Appeal.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
What are the most common wishes that Starlight gets.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
The beauty of the Starlight wish is that it's so unique.
It's the unique as the child who chooses them. But
our most popular wishes are things like bedroom makeover, is gaming, consoles,
cobby houses, holidays of course, and very companions are always
(02:58):
the top.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yes, yeah, yes, you got a check with mum and
dad on that.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, you mentioned family holidays. Someone's going to ask the
wishes involve other family members because let's be honest, it's
not just the kiddies, it's the families are all affected
by this as wellies.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, that's right. I wish really gives the Starlight child
the power back to use what they would like to
wish for, which is fantastic, but definitely involves the family
as well, And that's one of the greatest things because,
like you say, the whole family is impacted. Be able
to bring that joy not only to the wish child
but to their family, to the parents and siblings as well,
is really really special.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, I think sometimes people forget the other siblings too,
because they really you know, they feel through all of
this as well. Would we Courtney, I imagine we would
be horrified to hear how many kids do spend Christmas
in hospital?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, that's right. There are loads of kids that spend
Christmas in hospital right across Australia. And this Christmas, well
every Christmas, Starlight Children's Foundation hosts Christmas parties in each
of the hospital, each of the Starlight Express rooms in
all the hospitals across Australia. And that's to help really
bring that joy during this festive season to all of
those children who are unfortunately stuck in hospital. Over over
(04:18):
the festive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Season, I see it a lot of functions and things
Captain Starlit. Even Lisa and I were in the phone
room there tell us on this year about four of
them behind how many people get dressed up on a
regular basis.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Oh, we've got loads of Captain Starlight. Yeah, down from
at Starlight each and every day. That's right. That's just
incredible to be able to bring that joy and you know,
that positive distraction in hospital in those Starlight Express rooms
and buy award rounds et cetera. And yeah, we couldn't
do it without them, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
All right, Well, let's just mention where it is that
you can donate right up until December twenty four again
starlight dot org dot au Ford slash Christmas.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Yes, Starlight dot org dot. Are you that's correct? And yeah,
calling on all donations big and small. Definitely your help
will the help of the community will help us to
bring the joy this best of season.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well, nice work, Courtney, Yeah, Courtney, great job, Thank you
so much for joining us this morning.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
How could It's just how could you not want to help? Really?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And you're right about the siblings too, because they not
only care about their siblings, but they also you know,
they lose a bit of attention on them and a
bit of a bit of time from parents and that
kind hospital Christmas especially to get some more treatment that's
going to knock you around. Absolutely
Starlight is aiming to raise one point one million dollars
with their Christmas appeal this year. And to tell us more,
Starlight's wish granting manager. How's that for.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
A job t shall put it on your card.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
That's got to make you smile every day. I am
the wish granting manager, Courtney Smith as whether Hello, Courtney,
Welcome Courtney.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Hi, thanks so much for having me. And it's very
very very lucky to have that as my job titled.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
That's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So first of all, just tell us about Starlight. How
the Starlight Foundation works.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Sure, Starlight and exists because happiness matters. We know here
at Starlight that when a child is diagnosed with a
serious illness, life as they know it is all of
a sudden turned upside down. Their days become filled with stress,
and unfortunately the fear of painful treatments and their ability
to be happy is really significantly impacted. We know here
(00:55):
at Starlight that happiness is just so so important. It's
the strongest determinant of how we perform later in life.
And so our vision here at Starlight is for every
child to experience a happy childhood, and we do that
by providing moments of fun, joy and laughter to Serious
Deal children and their families in hospital through various programs
(01:17):
like our Captain Starlight program and the Starlight Express Rooms,
but also through graining wishes which bring an incredible gift
of happiness and hope as well.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Beautiful, you're talking about a goal of one point one million,
How many wishes would you get from that? Does it
depend on the industry?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yes, yes, that's right. So this festive season, Starlight Children's
Foundation is calling on the community to help us bring
much needed joy the Serious Deal children and we are
aiming to raise one point one million during now Christmas
Appeal this beested season and that will help us bring
happiness and joy to the Serious Deal children right across Australia,
(01:51):
including our wonderful Pert Children's Hospital, and it will help
us also to grant four hundred and ninety eight which
is this year. So definitely need the help of the
community to help us to continue to bring that joy
and can jump on to Starlight dot org dot au
right now and up until the twenty fourth of December
(02:12):
and any donation big or small is just so truly
appreciated and needed. The programs keep growing, the need keeps
growing and definitely need the help of the community. So
Starlight dot org dot au is where you can go
and help us see spective seasons throughout Christmas Appeal.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
What are the most common wishes that Starlight gets.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
The beauty of the Starlight wish is that it's so unique.
It's the unique as the child who chooses them. But
our most popular wishes are things like bedroom makeover, is gaming, consoles,
cobby houses, holidays of course, and very companions are always
(02:58):
the top.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yes, yeah, yes, you got a check with mum and
dad on that.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, you mentioned family holidays. Someone's going to ask the
wishes involve other family members because let's be honest, it's
not just the kiddies, it's the families are all affected
by this as wellies.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, that's right. I wish really gives the Starlight child
the power back to use what they would like to
wish for, which is fantastic, but definitely involves the family
as well, And that's one of the greatest things because,
like you say, the whole family is impacted. Be able
to bring that joy not only to the wish child
but to their family, to the parents and siblings as well,
is really really special.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, I think sometimes people forget the other siblings too,
because they really you know, they feel through all of
this as well. Would we Courtney, I imagine we would
be horrified to hear how many kids do spend Christmas
in hospital?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, that's right. There are loads of kids that spend
Christmas in hospital right across Australia. And this Christmas, well
every Christmas, Starlight Children's Foundation hosts Christmas parties in each
of the hospital, each of the Starlight Express rooms in
all the hospitals across Australia. And that's to help really
bring that joy during this festive season to all of
those children who are unfortunately stuck in hospital. Over over
(04:18):
the festive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Season, I see it a lot of functions and things
Captain Starlit. Even Lisa and I were in the phone
room there tell us on this year about four of
them behind how many people get dressed up on a
regular basis.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Oh, we've got loads of Captain Starlight. Yeah, down from
at Starlight each and every day. That's right. That's just
incredible to be able to bring that joy and you know,
that positive distraction in hospital in those Starlight Express rooms
and buy award rounds et cetera. And yeah, we couldn't
do it without them, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
All right, Well, let's just mention where it is that
you can donate right up until December twenty four again
starlight dot org dot au Ford slash Christmas.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Yes, Starlight dot org dot. Are you that's correct? And yeah,
calling on all donations big and small. Definitely your help
will the help of the community will help us to
bring the joy this best of season.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well, nice work, Courtney, Yeah, Courtney, great job, Thank you
so much for joining us this morning.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
How could It's just how could you not want to help? Really?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And you're right about the siblings too, because they not
only care about their siblings, but they also you know,
they lose a bit of attention on them and a
bit of a bit of time from parents and that
kind hospital Christmas especially to get some more treatment that's
going to knock you around. Absolutely
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