Little Wings donation helps kids fly

Wednesday, 17 January, 2018.

Gina Williams, a Newcastle Permanent HR Coordinator, typifies the attitude behind our CommunityAssist staff donation program.

Since 2015, Gina has been a volunteer driver for Little Wings, a volunteer-run organisation that transports sick children and their parents from rural and remote locations — by plane and car — to medical appointments.

"I was drawn to Little Wings because I am a mum who lives close to a major hospital," Gina said. "My heart just goes out to these parents who have incredibly unwell children and who aren’t lucky enough to live near a major hospital.

"Some families regularly travel eight hours to attend chemo appointments. It’s not only exhausting for the child, but for the parents too. As a mum, I can only imagine what they’re going through."

Gina’s involvement with Little Wings led her to nominate the organisation as a recipient of our CommunityAssist salary donations program. Staff members who elect to donate from their salaries each fortnight then voted on four recipient organisations for the year and Little Wings was successful in gaining a donation of $15,500.

Little Wings CEO Richelle Koller said the organisation’s operating costs were entirely funded by donations such as that by Newcastle Permanent's employees. 

"The Newcastle Permanent staff salary donation program is amazing—staff members have donated directly from their pay and they have chosen us, Little Wings, to be one of their beneficiaries. It’s so incredibly generous," Richelle said. 

"This $15,500 will cover the operating costs for our aircraft and transport vehicles that help children and their families make their way to and from the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.  

"This donation will ease the stress and burden that regional and rural families face when they simply don’t have easy access to medical treatment for their very unwell child. We are so grateful to receive this donation from the staff of Newcastle Permanent."