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April 2011

2 girls with mrs australia jpegMrs Australia 2010 Nikki Eastmure with Monash Children’s patients Tamika McCarthy and Mua Tuigamala.

Dream comes true for Monash kids

Four Monash Children’s patients with chronic illnesses travelled to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast for a Kids Day Out trip.

The outing came courtesy of Mrs Australia 2010 Nikki Eastmure and not-for-profit charity Project Dovetail.

Two of the patients – Tamika McCarthy and Mua Tuigamala – met Ms Eastmure when she toured Monash Children’s wards and the Children’s Cancer Centre.

Mua, who has systemic lupus erythematosus, which causes the immune system to attack the body’s cells and tissues, said they did heaps of stuff on their trip.

‘We met players from the Gold Coast Suns and went on all the rides at Dreamworld.

‘We had a great time.

‘Thank you to everyone involved with the trip and a big thank you to Mrs Australia,’ Mua said.

All the children involved in the Kids Day Out have endured many hospital visits and this was a welcome respite for them and their family members.

A special aspect of the trip, which also involved Heartkids Victoria, was that all the children were allowed to bring a sibling.

Ms Eastmure said she wanted to organise a special trip for sick children to live their dreams for a day.