KCSG at Work

Kids Cancer Support Group
Christmas Picnic 2011

Each year as we say goodbye and Merry Christmas to the last of the families leaving the Christmas Picnic we breath a sigh of relief that we have a whole year before the next one and just like Birthdays it comes around again before we know it.

Sunday December 4th and there we were at Advent Park at 8am in the morning setting up for another Christmas Picnic. Glenn the caretaker at Advent Park as always had made sure the park was clean and tidy before we arrived. Glenn always goes the extra mile for us and is always on hand during the day to help with any odd jobs…..thank you Glenn. Keeping our fingers crossed we hoped the weather would be kind to us all and we would not be drowned out or melting.

10am arrived and with it the first of our families followed shortly after by many more.

Jelly Bean and her merry band from Radio Lollipop  were ready with music and games to get the picnic in full swing. Mum's and Dad's were shamed into participating in the sack race which they had to jump backwards to make it harder and so much more fun for the spectators.

The Trek train was on hand, under the supervision of Dale and Callum, to take the children for trips around the park with some children looking suspiciously like adults and who seemed to have just as much fun as the children.

Pony rides were popular as was the bouncy castle although being of advancing years it became a little deflated as the day wore on, have to put a new  one on our wish list to Santa this year.

The KCSG Patron Rosco Mc.Glashan ( Fastest Aussie on Earth) and his wife Cheryl found the time from their hectic schedule to once again attend the Picnic. Rosco comes along each year and signs posters of his amazing rocker/car, chats to the children about his latest challenge to become the Fastest Man on Earth and patiently poses for endless photos. Rosco is also a big hit with the Mum's and Dad's with many joining the queue to shake his hand and snatch a photo. One dad was so in awe of meeting his childhood hero we thought we might need a stretcher. Rosco and Cheryl have always said that attending the picnic is one of the highlights of the year and we thank them for their ongoing support.

The KCSG Trekkers were on hand to organize games as well as run the coffee and ice-cream vans and supply water and soft drinks. Thanks to Brian & Atholl.

Our delicious barbeque lunch and sausage sizzle was organized, prepared and served by Trek Chef Dave along with Doc, Maureen & Gary.

After lunch it was time for a very special visitor and the children soon congregated together to welcome Santa with his very large sacks of gifts. Thanks to Peter.

Because of the few drops of rain we had already had and black clouds looming we decided to move Santa and children into the shed, not the best décor which didn't really matter as all eyes were on those bulging sacks. Many thanks to Robyn Pollard of Woodside a long time supporter of the KCSG who each year with the generosity of her work colleagues donate $2,000 to purchase gifts for the children. Thanks must also go to Martin and Christine Hancock who co-ordinate the purchasing of the gifts, a huge task I can assure you and with the help of their daughters Jessica and Natalie sort the presents, wrap them all and put into age groups ( and ship them off to Santa to deliver on the day)

Presents dispensed, wrapping paper ripped off and after farewell and hugs for Santa happy children returned to outdoors to show off their gifts to each other and have a last game and ice-cream before it was time to pack up and head home.