Dream Day
Wishes by Wyndham give special kids a Dream Day
Sixteen disadvantaged/special needs children from Australia and New Zealand and their carers had an opportunity of a lifetime when they were flown to the Gold Coast for a special Wishes by Wyndham Dream Day.
Wishes by Wyndham is a community initiative program devised and implemented by Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Communication. The aim of the program is to create opportunities that enrich people's lives - not only through Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific business ventures but also through initiatives that make a real difference in the communities where the company does business.
An amazing team of kids, carers, staff, celebrities, media and like-minded businesses worked incredibly hard to prove that by working together, dreams really can come true recently with the culmination of Dream Day.
On Monday 14 May, the children began arriving from NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand and WA. Many of them were very withdrawn and there were very few smiles.
It was also important to us to recognise the strength and commitment of their carers, who are faced with the relentless role of caring for their young charges. For those carers, our staff, celebrities and media involved in the event, it was an incredibly rewarding experience to watch these amazing children who have faced unthinkable hurdles blossom into a tight-knit bunch of smiling, happy faces in just two days. Dream Day was definitely a life-changing experience for everyone involved.
The children were selected through charities The Steve Waugh Foundation, Variety the Children's Charity Tasmania, Variety the Children's Charity New Zealand, KIDS Foundation, Kids Under Cover, Bear Cottage and through Mix 101FM in Melbourne.
The children invited were Emma Wheeler, 7, Gemma Hockley, 7, Connor MacLean, 10, Stacey Nicholls, 13, Shane Tetheridge, 14, Ashley Clay, 11, Rebecca Clay, 14, Nathan Perkins, 18, Ashlee Perkins, 15, Paige Perkins, 12, Rebecca Triffett, 16, Mark Cordwell, 16, Levi Pikaahu, 8, Brittany McKenna, 8, Eliza Jackson, 7 and Kon Havelas, 6.
The all-expenses paid break began on the rooftop of the Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Kirra Beach resort, where the VIP visitors, watched a magical sunset from the best view the Gold Coast can offer.
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific's Associate Resort, Swell Burleigh Beach Resort, generously donated luxury accommodation for everyone and many businesses kicked in with goodies in awaiting gift bags.
That night a welcome dinner was held at the Kirra Beach resort where talented singer, Casey Barnes (who has supported Bryan Adams, Eskimo Joe and The Whitlams), entertained everyone until he was challenged for the microphone by some of the children. Rebecca Clay brought tears to the eyes of many as she sang A Thousand Miles by Michelle Branch and Connor MacLean brought the house down with dance moves and all with his rendition of Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams. Paige Perkins sang Green Day's Time of your Life.
The next day everyone was ready at the gates of Dreamworld who generously opened their doors for the whole team. The kids were greeted by Spongebob Squarepants and friends. After an exclusive breakfast and slime show, Bollywood actress Tania Zaetta, World Ironwoman Champion, Kristy Munroe and singer Casey Barnes joined the kids to hit the rides for the day.
A lunch time surprise was held at the Big Brother stage where Big Brother Friday Night Live hosts Bree Amer and Mike Goldman joined the children and happily signed and posed for many photos.
Highlights of the day included seeing the tiger cubs, visiting Wiggle World, and challenging each other to take on the Tower of Terror. However for many, especially the parents, the highlight was seeing their children smile and laugh for the first time in a long time and watching them forget their disabilities and challenges they face everyday.
At 4pm, the last of the children boarded the bus back to Swell Burleigh Beach Resort, some drenched from rapid rides, others mostly happily tired.
Dinner was held by the poolside at Swell where Gold Coast Titan, Daniel Conn surprised the weary travellers. The evening was spent eating pizza donated by Domino's, reminiscing about the day and swimming in the pool.
No one wanted to leave on Wednesday, with a combination of smiling faces, heartfelt hugs and tears of joy evidence that trip had been a huge success.
The Wishes by Wyndham team was thrilled to be able to organise a break that these worthy kids and carers would never have been able to afford.
By contributing time, skills, knowledge and resources to people and causes, Wishes by Wyndham is about providing assistance and community support to ultimately help sustain the environment and positively enhance the lives of people who need it most.
Wishes by Wyndham proved dreams really can come true on Dream Day.
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Dreamworld
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Swell Resort Burleigh Beach
- COS - Complete Office Supplies
- Qantas
- Virgin Blue
- 9AM with David and Kim
- Coachtrans Australia
- Surfside Buslines
- Domino's
- Hasbro
- Michel's Patisserie
- FujiFilm
- Nestle
- LeTan
- Pascall
- The Natural Confectionary Co
- Chupa Chups
- Little Angel
- Fing'rs
- Next Gen Media
- Coca Cola Amatil
- Mix 101 FM
- Tania Zaetta
- Jason McCartney
- David Boon
- Grant Fox
- Ann-Maree Biggar
- Casey Barnes
- Kristy Munroe
- Ross Hams
- Michelle Barnes
- Cloe Massey
- David Moore
