Starlight brightens nights and days

SPENDING time in hospital is not much fun for anyone.
But it is just that little bit tougher for children – especially when they are too ill to leave their beds.
For many sick kids it can be a very lonely, painful and boring experience, but for children at the Dandenong Hospital things have become a little brighter.
Last Thursday, the Starlight Children’s Foundation donated a Starlight entertainment ‘fun centre’ unit to the Hospital’s paediatric ward with the help of the Donazzan Jackson Charitable Foundation.
Spokesperson for the Starlight Foundation, Melissa Hay said emotions played a critical role when a child was in hospital and the fun centre would offer a distraction.
“They (the centres) bring some joy, entertainment and happiness into the child’s life.
“Even late into the night when children can’t get to sleep due to their illness, they can watch a movie or play a game and escape their surroundings into a world of make believe,” she said.
The Starlight ‘fun centres’ are colourful, hightech entertainment units that contain a state of the art LCD flatscreen, DVD player, Nintendo Gamecube and computer with internet access capability and huge variety of preloaded games and movies.
Starlight donated two fun centres to the hospital in August 2004.
“Thanks to the Donazzan Jackson Charitable Foundation, even more children will now get to experience the magic of Starlight, overall bringing more laughter and happiness to hospitalised children for years to come,” Starlight state manager Chris Franks said.
Dandenong Hospital’s children’s ward nurse unit manager Janine Maloney said the fun centres helped children through their illness.
“They (the centres) are always received with great enthusiasm and provide many hours of fun for the children.
“We appreciate Starlight’s kind generosity so much. Thank you from everyone on the Children’s ward at Dandenong Hospital,” she said.
Starlight aims to deliver one fun centre for every eight to 10 paediatric beds in hospitals around Australia.