HeartKids Christmas Party
Come along for a fun day out to the HeartKids Christmas Party…
This year’s party will be held at Central Gardens, Merrylands (corner of Cumberland Highway and Merrylands Road, Merrylands)
Date: Sunday 30th November 2008
Time: 10am -2:30pm
Join us for a fun day of jumping castles, clowns, sausage sizzle, games and a special visit from Santa!
Please bring along a gift from Santa for your child.
RSVP: Karen Sherlock – 0410 064 655 or
2009 HeartKids Teen Camp
Registration is now open for the 2009 Teen Camp.
FREE for all HeartKids. For more information and to download a registration form click here:
2009 HeartKids Teen Camp
The HeartKids Tiny Tickers Ball 2008
The HeartKids Tiny Tickers Ball 2008
Well with great anticipation and a frantic week of wrapping and double checking, all was in place – the HeartKids Tiny Tickers Ball for 2008 was finally here! With the truck and three cars packed and about 20 wonderful volunteers, we turned up to transform the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel into a room worth partying in!
The night was a wonderful success, with over 560 people attending or volunteering on the night. We were very excited to have two wonderful Platinum sponsors – Urban Pacific and our wine sponsor – Watershed Wines. We were also thrilled to have Coopers come on board as our beer sponsor.
This year we had four fantastic Gold sponsors – Channel Seven, Fox Badger Ferret, Alpine Nurseries and Staging Connections. Silver sponsors included Ernst and Young, Actelion, Huawei, Praesta and SAS. Finally our Bronze sponsors included Shirlaws, Manchester Unity and HSBC. HeartKids is incredibly grateful to the sponsors who have helped to make our Ball a very successful one with over $100,000 made on the night. This money will be used wisely.
One of the highlights of the Ball was the return of the John Field Band. The dance floor was soon packed and stayed that way for nearly every song they played. Channel Seven’ wonderful support of the Ball included Mark Beretta coming on board as a fabulous MC and Simon Reeve backing up for a wonderful interview with Gabbie Scarfe, the Nursing Unit Manager of the Edgar Stephens Ward at the Children’s Hospital, Westmead. She gave many an incredible insight into the wonderful work the nurses do. We were also thrilled to Kerri Pottharst, Nici Andronicus, Sarah Groen, Chris Bath and Angela Bishop attend the event. Many of our celebrities, along with some of our Board Members had the opportunity to help paint a stunning painting. This was led by Manly artist Tara Green and the final piece of art was then auctioned off in the live auction.
Once again, the acceptance dance of the 10Kg block of chocolate made many people laugh, this might have to become a tradition of the HeartKids Ball.
It is sad to see another Ball end after all the planning by our very hard working Ball committee. These people have worked tirelessly for months to put together a very successful event. Our committee as well as some hard working board members included Stephanie King, Donalda Brown, Donna Hammond, Celine Thurlow, Coralie Thurlow, Julie Reading, Hilary de St Guillaume, Melissa Chue, Carolyn Alleyne, Jennifer Mc Carthy, Catherine Burton, Dawn Everingham, Jackie Teer, Karen Sherlock, Ryan Payne, Peter Sherlock and Allan Bruty.
HeartKids would like to thank everyone for attending the Ball, we hope you had as much fun as we did. If you would like to be a part of the planning for next year’s event please feel free to contact me at: , I would love to hear from you.
HeartKids Christmas Cards
Busking to the Beat
HeartKids is running a new school program called ‘Busking To The Beat’. Our aim is to raise awareness of the high incidence of Childhood Heart Disease (CHD) as well as raising much needed funds. Will you join us in the fun?
Click here for more information.
Click below to play the video!
Read all about Kids Heart Research DNA Bank
Kids Heart Research DNA Bank. An initiative to help understand the cause of congenital heart disease.
Leave a message:
HeartKids Trivia Night at Bexley RSL Club
What a fantastic night we had for our Trivia Night at Bexley RSL Club in May. We managed to raise $13,683! Our MC for the night John Stanley did a terrific job rattling our brains with 4 rounds of questions plus a few fun games to keep everyone entertained. We were thrilled with a generous donation of $2000 from the Bexley RSL Club board who presented us a cheque on the night, and are very thankful for the wonderful staff at the RSL club who ensured our night ran smoothly.
We couldn’t have done it without the help of our fabulous sponsors
So a very big thank you to;
- Bexley RSL Club
- Liondos
- Mamm international
- Coast
- Dedes
- Kikki K
- Como Butchers
- Feros Group
- McGrath, St George
- Cloud Nine Hair & Beauty
- Beluga, Cronulla
- Pool Vision
- IGA Oatley
- Blankie Baby Express
- Watershed Premium Wines
- Cronulla Cinema
- Stapeltons Quality Meats
- Lugarno seafood
- Aroma’s café
- Atlantic Seafood
- Olsens Funerals
- Aqua Car Wash
- Sydney Swans
- Fairfax community newspapers
- Captain Cook cruises
- Keith & Lyn Urquhart
- Scott Moffitt
- Irene Lewis & Dave Inglis
- St George Illawarra Ruby League Club
- Beverly Park Golf Club
- FRP racing
- Rod Lloyd
- Hogs Breathe Café
- Mark Somboli
- Professionals
I would like also like to thank everyone that helped out on the night and before hand. Mark Somboli from the Professionals at Kogarah did a great job with the live auction. Maureen Moffitt was a huge help in sourcing prizes, our volunteers who did the scoring, selling raffle tickets and merchandise, Michelle Dawes who helped with the decorations and setting up and our wonderful HeartKids staff.
Of course a big thank you to all who attended on the night!
Hope to see you at the next one,
Karen Sherlock
Bexley Trivia Night update
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Bexley Trivia Night on May 10th. The night was a roaring success with $13,000 raised for HeartKids NSW.
This money will be put towards producing literature to educate people on CHD and also to support events for families over the course of the year. The night would not have been possible without the support of some very special individuals – Maureen Moffit; Anton Dworzak; Glenn Hosking and of course the HeartKids NSW Team of Dawn Everingham, Karen Sherlock and Kim Mackie.
We had an array of sponsors who we thank sincerely.
A huge debt of thanks also goes to Bexley RSL Club who presented us with a cheque for $2,000 and how put on a fantastic night for all our guests.
Heart Felt Desserts – for HeartKids
HeartKids NSW announces their campaign “Heart Felt Desserts” in the month of May 2008. Some of Sydney’s leading restaurants are taking part in the campaign to help raise funds and awareness for congenital heart disease (CHD).
1 in 100 children are born with heart disease in Australia. HeartKids’ mission is to find out why and at the same time offer support to families both in and out of hospital. 4 children die of CHD every week in Australia* and in 80% of cases of CHD there is no known cause.
Throughout May restaurants that include Rockpool(fish), Watermark at Balmoral, Cafe Sydney, Flying Fish, Pilu at Freshwater… are asking their pastry chefs to create a unique dessert for their May menu. $2.00 from the sell of every one of these desserts will go towards HeartKids’ cause.
The awareness created by this unique campaig will help HeartKids raise much needed funds to continue their work – work that includes offering 1:1 support during and after a hospital stay; providing the cardiac unit at the 2 major Sydney children’s hospitals with vital facilities and assisting with funding research into the causes of CHD.
Con Dedes of Flying Fish says: “HeartKids is important to me personally, but beyond that, what HeartKids are trying to do is give a voice to the thousands of Australian families affected by childhood heart disease – something that is killing more children than all childhood diseases combined. By donating $2.00 from every dessert sold in the month of March 2008, Sydney’s leading restaurants are showing their willingness to get behind a cause that needs the profile only they can bring.”
HeartKids would welcome any interviews with its NSW General Manager and the opportunity to introduce you to some heart kids and their families, which would provide a human interest focus.
*statistic provided by Australian New Zealand Children’s Heart Research Centre (ANZCHRC)
FOR ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS, PLEASE CONTACT:
HeartKids NSW General Manager, Kathryn Meekings – 0406 424 511
Con Dedes, Owner, Flying Fish Restaurant Pyrmont – 0412 567 679
A Tribute to Dr Graham Nunn
In March 2008 Dr Nunn left to take up a new position as Head of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac surgery for Queensland in Brisbane. He leaves behind many member families, not just patients, but friends. This space is your opportunity to say THANK YOU Dr Nunn. Typical of the response to his departure is that from heart mum, and HeartKids FSC, Kim Mackie – “As Family Support Coordinator at Westmead I see Graham regularly, speaking to families before and after surgery, in PICU and passing in the corridors. He always made time to explain things over and over for shell shocked parents, speaking in his quiet tone of voice making what he did for their child seem effortless.
As the heart mum of Liam who turns 18 on 29/3/08, I say THANK YOU to Graham. We met him the day of Liam’s 1st surgery aged 11 days. Graham went on to operate on Liam 4 more times over the next 16 years, culminating just 22 months ago with the last surgery Graham would do on Liam, as at 18 he is no longer a child and will have to transition into the adult world.
From a personal point of view without Dr Graham Nunn we would not have a son, and for his skill, expertise, caring, and dedication we say again….thank you. I know many families were greatly saddened by the news that he was leaving for Brisbane and I am sure that everyone in the HeartKids family would wish Graham and his family all the very best for the new challenges that lie ahead.
Our loss is Queenslands gain, they’re very lucky to have him.
Kim Mackie
Family Support Coordinator.
Leave a message:
Latest HeartKids Australia news
HeartKids Australia News
During the Summer, our new Chair hosted a special farewell dinner for the Frawleys. During the evening an engraved decanter was presented on behalf of everyone associated with HeartKids to Dom which recognised his vision, leadership and commitment in working to establish HeartKids Australia and for his work as the founding Chair of the Board.
Chair Stephen Shepherd with Dom and Maggie Frawley and CEO Neil McWhannell
During February Pasta Master conducted a series of launches of its support for HeartKids. With the significant expenses involved, these were only conducted on the eastern seaboard in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It was pleasing to see, HeartKids families and leading cardiologists from each state take up the offer to attend and speak about the partnership between HeartKids and the hospitals. The support of Andrew Douglass and his company will always hold a special place in the history of HeartKids and is one that we are most appreciative of.
Pasta Master CEO Chris Szlachetko presenting the cheque to Riley Brown and his parents. Dr David Winlaw, who is to have his research funded through our corporate donations, looks on.
Over the summer there was also a range of fund raising events throughout the country. HeartKids Queensland and HeartKids West Australia held most successful Gala Balls, whilst in NSW the Vodafone group held a Charity Golf Day. This was held at the spectacular St Michael’s course overlooking the ocean. Despite a fair few balls ending up in a watery grave, a great day was had by all with over $50,000 being raised. This is to be shared between HeartKids and the other selected charity.
Research
With the assistance of our major sponsors, Manchester Unity and Pasta Master, HeartKids has recently begun its support of research into children’s heart disease. The first recipients of this support are Assoc Prof David Winlaw from the Kids Heart Research Unit at The Children’s Hospital Westmead and Dr Michael Cheung from the Murdoch Research Institute located at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Prof Winlaw’s project will investigate the genetic causes of children’s heart disease. In the project he will be comparing the DNA of children affected by heart disease with that of 1000 other individuals without any family history of congenital heart disease. Through identification of specific but subtle genetic abnormalities, it is hoped that future interventions can be better targeted, similar to the way in which folate has reduced incidence of spina bifida.
In accepting the grant David stated that childhood heart disease remains a common and complex disease and this study is a necessary step toward lessening its impact. In the future, knowing how these genes interact with the foetal environment will also lead to greater understanding of why CHD occurs and the risk to future siblings or offspring. This may later lead to matters of prevention, lifestyle and intervention.
_thumb.jpg)
Assoc Prof David Winlaw with Senior Scientist Dr Tanya Butler
The second project is being lead by Dr Michael Cheung. Dr Cheung is a senior cardiologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne whilst conducting his research out of the attached Murdoch Research Unit.
Dr Cheung’s project titled, ‘Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning’ will look at reducing cardiopulmonary bypass induced injury. In the past many children who have undergone open heart surgery have acquired injury to other major organs, including the brain and liver.
Dr Cheung states patients with more complex forms of disease require surgical repair in the first month of life where risk of significant morbidity and mortality is greatest. Over the past few years he has carried out studies into injuries caused by heart-lung bypass support of the circulation during open heart surgery.
Essentially, brief periods (5 minutes) of reduction in blood flow to the arm or leg, using a blood pressure cuff, activates protective pathways throughout the body. He has shown that this simple non-invasive and drug free method of organ protection reduces injury to heart muscle in animal models of heart attack and also heart-lung bypass.
He has also shown significant benefits, with reduced injury to the heart and lungs, to a group of older children undergoing surgery. He now wishes to extend his work to children with the most severe forms of heart disease and also study whether this technique protects against brain injury in an animal model of cardiac surgery. He predicts that reduction in organ injury will have significant benefits to children with heart disease with reduction in morbidity and mortality both in the short and long term.
Neil McWhannell
CEO
Chairman’s Report
In February the National Board met in Sydney, for what turned out to be a ‘watershed’ moment in our evolution. New Board members took up their respective roles with each one presenting to the meeting. Outcomes included the endorsement of a 3 year Strategic Plan, along with the acceptance of a comprehensive Governance Manual which we hope will be adapted for use by all States.
During the meeting we also reviewed where we are at as an organisation. Common themes from all states included:
- Everyone is in a process of transition
- Need for clear and ongoing focus on local fundraising
- Need to get the right people and manage costs
- Need to develop appropriate structures to manage state organisations
- State Governance responsibilities are increasing as we become more professional
- Need to review how we use volunteers, now than we are employing staff to ensure that they continue to perform valuable and valued tasks as part of the team
In reviewing the Strategic Plan we also identified key priorities for HKA in the coming year. These were:
- Help ensure that all state organisations are thriving and aligned
- Become the Public face of CHD
- Grow and align CHD Research
As a follow up to the meeting we resolved to commission a ‘White Paper’ on the needs and key issues relating to Children’s Heart Disease. Coupled with a strong communication program, his will significantly increase awareness in CHD and help future proposals to core sponsors and State and Federal Governments. We are also began work on a ‘Positioning paper’ which will provide a clear strategy on how we should present ourselves as the Public face of CHD.
I look forward to sharing progress on these important initiatives as the year progresses.
Stephen Shepherd
Chair
Annual charity Zippa Awareness Month to promote childhood heart disease
HeartKids has its annual Zippa Awareness Month in February 2008.
Zippa_Awareness_Month_2008_Press_Release_NSW-1.pdf
HeartKids Events
May 2008
Heart Felt Desserts Fundraiser Awareness campaign
This campaign will see some of Sydney’s top hatted restaurants (Flying Fish for example) make a dessert just for HeartKids with proceeds from sales of the dessert going to HeartKids NSW throughout the month of May. So why not visit some of the best restaurants in Sydney and go the dessert additions menu and support HeartKids in the process! Visit this site regularly to see which restaurants have confirmed their involvement.
10th May – Bexley Trivia Night – Book the date in your diaries and study up on your trivia – it’s going to be another fun-filled evening for a good cause. for more information Please contact Karen Sherlock:
August 2008
Busking to the Beat
This school programme is an opportunity for primary school students all over NSW to show off their unique talents and help raise funds for other children. Throughout NSW Schools will hold a ‘busking day’ for their teachers, family and fellow students who in turn will provide the busker with a gold coin donation – or two! Acts include juggling; gymnastics displays; singing; playing a musical instrument, even some mind boggling displays of flexibility! It’s good healthy fun for the kids with friendly competition throughout the school to see who can raise the most. To get your local school involved contact Dawn Everingham on 0420 364 125.
City to Surf Fundraiser
HeartKids NSW hopes to have an even bigger team in the traditional Sydney to Surf in 2008. Watch this space!
September 2008
20th September HeartKids NSW will hold its annual Charity Ball at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney. Tickets are $180 each or $1,800 for a table of 10. For more information, to assist with ball preparations, auction items or to book your table please contact our Fundraising Events Manager, Mary Bowie on 0402 901 921.
Regular Events:
Westmead Children’s Hospital – Coffee Mornings
1st Tuesday and 3rd Thursday each month.
Please contact Kim on 0406 420 627 or 9294 0800 for further details.
Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick – Coffee Morning
If you would like to attend a coffee morning at the Sydney Children’s
Hospital Randwick please contact Karen on 0406 424 620 or 9294 0800.
HeartKids newsletters
HeartKids News – Spring 2008
HK_Spring2008_LOWRES_singlepg.pdf
HeartKids News – Winter 2008
HEA409-HeartkidsNews_WINTER_V7.pdf
HeartKids News – Autumn 2008
HEA408-HeartkidsNews_Autumn_V8.pdf
HeartKids News – Summer 2007
HEA406-HeartkidsNews_SUMMER.pdf
HeartKids News – Spring 2007
HEA404-HeartkidsNews_Spring.pdf
HeartKids News – Autumn 2007
HEA402-HeartkidsNews_autumn.pdf
HeartKids News – Winter 2007
List of Achievements of HeartKids NSW
Over the years, HeartKids NSW, with the help of members, sponsors and friends, has been able to help out the children’s hospitals in NSW by way of donations of money, equipment and research grants.
Support Service
We have an established history of familial/emotional care, support and understanding for families going through the trauma of having a child with Childhood Heart Disease (CHD).
We offer practical assistance for families, while they are in hospital, this includes for eg: phone cards, parking assistance, hospital packs, food vouchers, coffee mornings, and reimbursement of small expenses incurred while staying in hospital.
We provide information services eg brochures on hospital care, resource library, website, newsletter, experienced parents available to talk to other families about their experiences.
We employ dedicated, caring, and family support workers at both major children’s hospitals who coordinate support and care for families in hospital and in times of need.
We work closely with Medical and Para-medical staff at both Children’s hospitals to improve understanding of issues/services affecting our families.
We network very closely with the other Heartkids State groups and have been very involved with the formation of our national organisation Heartkids Australia.
We hosted the Heartkids Australia national conference in Sydney this August 2006 at Rydges Hotel North Sydney.
We are working hard to advocate more awareness of Childhood Heart Disease within the corporate community.
We organise social outlets for children and their families, so that children can spend time with other friends like themselves
- Christmas parties
- Movie days etc
- An annual Teen camp for the older children
- Family camp
- Coffee mornings on the ward
We gratefully accept the making of and help with the handing out of handmade quilts by dedicated volunteers for children to brighten up their stay in hospital.
Research Support
We encourage and support research programs aimed at the prevention, detection and management of Childhood Heart Disease. We do this by providing financial donations to established research bodies to support and establish research projects into Congenital Heart Disease.
2004
- $10,000 donation to ANZCHRC (Australia and New Zealand Children’s Heart Research Centre)
- $10,000 donation to Dr Robert Weintraub to be used for Paediatric Heart Transplant Research
- $30,000 donation to Dr David Winlaw / Adolph Basser Cardiac institute to be used for Aquaporins study – surviving cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
2005
- $5,000 donation to Dr David Winlaw / Adolph Basser Cardiac institute
2006
- $20,000 donation to ‘Kids Heart Research’ projects based at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – Dr David Winlaw accepted the cheque on behalf of the Centre.
- $10,000 donation to ANZCHRC
2007 to date
- $20,000 donation to ‘Kids Heart Research’ projects based at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – Dr David Winlaw accepted the cheque on behalf of the Centre.
Equipment and Hospital Support
We purchase essential equipment to help resource our hospitals for the benefit of children’s care. Some of the items that we have purchased include:
2001
- Donation of a Head Camera to Dr Sholler from money raised by the Eastwood Quilters raffle money.
2003
- Donation of a $14,000 Cardiac Stress Test Machine to Children’s Hospital Westmead
- Donation of $6,000 for a fibrillator at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – $20.000 raised by the THROB for Life concert in memory of Daniel Brown.
- $1,000 donation to Grace Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- $1,000 donation to PICU in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- $1,000 donation to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- Donation of Children’s Toys to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
2004
- 2 Neopuff units donated to John Hunter Hospital
- Donation of new children’s wheelchair to C2South ward in Randwick
- 1 set of new Baby Scales was donated to C2South ward in Randwick
- Donation of Paediatric sized Stethoscopes (so that Heart sounds can be heard in isolation to Bowel sounds) to PICU in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- Donation towards a Neonatal Transport Bed for safe and non disturbed movement of Newborns, to Grace Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- Donation of $1000 to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead towards general purchases
2005
- A Pulse oximeter at John Hunter Hospital
- 8 trolleys for moving Televisions to patients beds were donated to Edgar Stevens Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- Electric Breast Pumps for the use of Mothers expressing breast milk, was donated to Grace NICU at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
2006
- Cardiac Pacemaker for Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU), Sydney Children’s Hospital
- $2,500 donation to buy a Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development – Third Edition (Bayley III) for the Grace NICU Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead,
- Making and donating baby wraps to be used by families on the Edgar Stevens ward and PICU.
- Bought 2 breast pumps to be used on the Edgar Steven’s ward at $1,900.
- November we undertook a 2-day renovation project in partnership with the Vodafone Australia Foundation. The VAF funded the project with an $18,000 grant and provided volunteers to help do the work needed to renovate the 6 rooms at CHW. We updated tired old furniture, put on a new coat of paint, and donated some new comfort items such as microwave, TV set, artwork and fridge for the parent’s room. Nurses, kids, parents are very happy with the new look rooms. A very satisfying project.
- $2,500 donation to buy a Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development – Third Edition (Bayley III) for the Grace NICU Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
- $1,000 to go towards purchasing new high chairs and CD players for Edgar Stevens ward.
- $3,400 to PICU CHW to buy 2x Sims Syringe Drivers.
2007
- $3,000 to CHW to help refund regional families accommodation costs for the night before surgery. Admission now for operations is day only thus country families need to pay for accommodation in Sydney the night before surgery. This is very difficult for some families.
We publish a seasonal “Heartkids News” newsletter to member families, members and health care professionals.