Robyn helps out

By Casey Neill
TECOMA volunteer Robyn Sherer brings colour and creativity to sick kids, and takes inspiration from the courageous young patients.
The 45-year-old art teacher has volunteered for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Creative Expressions program for the past two years.
She’s urging people to dig deep to support the hospital’s Good Friday Appeal on 2 April.
“They need every cent they can get. None of it’s wasted at all,” she said.
“You can see where the money goes if you go there. You can see where it goes and where it’s needed.”
Creative Expressions is aimed at adolescent patients.
“There’s lots of stuff for little kids but not a lot for the older kids,” Ms Sherer said.
“It’s just great for the kids who are too sick to get up and run around or anything, and it’s a little bit more grown up than the Starlight Room and some of those things.”
“Sometimes we go to their bed if they’re too sick to get up, and take all the paints and stuff to their bed.”
Ms Sherer said the patients were “a great bunch of kids, always”.
“Teenagers are a lot of fun, they’re really challenging and at that age when they just want to arc up at everything, so that’s good,” she said.
“And there’s lot of really talented artists that come through there, so that’s always really inspiring for me.”
Ms Sherer said volunteering with sick kids was generally very positive.
“Most of the time the kids respond really well to treatment and every week you just see them getting better and stronger and then they go home,” she said.
“Occasionally there’s some very sad stories that come through, and then you think about it for a long time afterwards.”
Ms Sherer said it was nice to be giving a bit back and encouraged others to help the hospital out.
“They rely a lot on volunteers, but you have to be prepared to commit yourself,” she said.
“It’s really a lot of fun and very worthwhile.”
The mother of two has always supported the annual appeal.
“I’ve been lucky that they’ve been mostly healthy,” she said.
“It’s just a matter of being thankful for what you’ve got. If you’ve got kids it’s nice to help out a charity that helps kids.”
Ms Sherer urged people to donate what they could.
“It is a world-class facility so we want to keep it there and keep it improving because it helps children from all around Australia and the world.”
The Good Friday Appeal has contributed $197 million to the Royal Children’s Hospital since 1931, including a record-breaking $13,862,734 last year.
Money raised goes towards purchasing medical equipment and research into childhood illnesses such as cancer, bone diseases, asthma, gastroenteritis, cerebral palsy and growth disorders.
Readers can call 9292 1166 or visit www.goodfridayappeal.com.au to donate.