AOC: Dressed in her bathers and goggles, three-year-old Arabella McNees couldn’t stop smiling as she held swimmer Bronte Campbell’s Rio Olympic medal.
The youngster was dressed to impress as nine Olympians visited the Starlight Express Room at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday as part of the AOC's Welcome Home events across Australia.
For Arabella’s mother Sarah, the visit was some brief respite from life at the hospital.
“It’s such a lift for absolutely everybody. It’s just so inspirational,” Mrs McNees said.
“When you’re here in the hospital as much as these children are, to see these athletes it makes them feel like they’re not here.”
Sarah, Arabella and their family have been at the hospital since April, when Arabella’s one-year-old brother George was diagnosed with brain cancer.
“We’ve had to relocate from Hobart to have treatment at the hospital here and we’ll probably be here until Christmas,” she said.
“The Starlight Room especially has been a saviour to feel like you’re outside the hospital and have a positive experience, it’s what keeps us going every day really.”
As Arabella joined the other dozen or so children in the room – with the full chat with athletes broadcast to all the hospital rooms via television – the room was brought to life with questions about training, the Olympics and what the Olympians’ favourite junk food snack is.
“I don’t think she realises because she is so young but as she gets older she’ll realise the incredible experience she’s just had today,” Mrs McNees said.
“I’m hoping she’ll win her own medal one day - and it’s not just chocolate!”
Rio gold medallist Bronte Campbell said the session helps the Australian Team athletes give back and inspire the next generation of Olympians.
“It was so cute when we walked in and we saw Arabella in her bathers, it was adorable,” Campbell said.
“She’s taken the Olympic spirit to the next level. She was so excited to have us here, it makes it really worth it.”
“With that sort of commitment, when you’re young to put on your togs and just come down to the Starlight Room and not care what everyone thinks of you, that is a champion attitude. I look forward to seeing her in 10 years’ time!”
After visiting the Starlight Room in Sydney earlier in the week, Campbell said it was one of the best parts of the Welcome Home events around the country.
“It’s so rewarding, these kinds go through a lot and to come in and they’re smiling and they give you a hug and a high five – they just want to touch your medal it’s the biggest drawcard,” she said.
“It’s so nice to bring a smile to their faces because I’m sure their life isn’t that easy and it puts it in perspective for us, we have it pretty well.”
Annie Kearney
olympics.com.au
