The festive season hit the Mitchell River Tavern recently as Make-A-Wish Australia East Gippsland Branch hosted Christmas in July, raising money to help grant the wishes of seriously ill children across the country.
More than 60 guests gathered for a two course Christmas feast, raising around $1250, largely thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals that donated a fantastic array of raffle and door prizes.
Make-A-Wish Australia designs and grants wishes for children with critical illnesses, providing something bright and positive to focus on with a wish effect that lasts a lifetime.
A short movie telling the story of the very first wish, granted to a young boy with end-stage leukaemia in the United States and resulting in the founding of Make-A-Wish 44 years ago, was projected onto the tavern’s back wall.
Born with cystic fibrosis, local lad, Jacob Tomkins, well-known for his time behind the bar at the tavern, has been a wish recipient, an experience he says has had an amazing impact on his life.
Taking a brief break from behind the bar during this year’s Christmas in July celebrations, Jacob took the time to share his story with guests.
“Born with cystic fibrosis means lung deficiency, which means I was a bit of a pain in the butt,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to be granted a wish by Make-A-Wish, but with complications through COVID, misalignment of schedules, and not really knowing what I wanted, I didn’t actually receive it and cash it in until last November in Melbourne where I went to a Post Malone concert.
“It was very, very special for me.
“I had a few of my friends join me, which was awesome. We got there and managed to get backstage and meet him. Lucky for me I picked one of the good celebrities, because he was one of the most genuine, caring and down to earth people I’ve ever met.
“He was ready and willing to give me the time of day and I managed to spend a good
hour-and-a-half with him, connecting and chatting. He gave me his phone number if I ever needed anything. That’s from a AAA music celebrity.
“That was one of the most significant days of my life, being able to experience that and feel like I was part of his inner circle, which I never imagined. I thought it was going to be a simple hello, goodbye, enjoy the concert, but Make-A-Wish really pulled things together for me.
“Growing up, sicknesses in and out of hospital in my teenage years, really made that significant for me and made it all worth it to come out on the other side, having experienced that and to be a part of something that I think I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“Thank you to Make-A-Wish and thank you to everyone who has donated in the past, and going to donate in the future, because for blokes like me, these things really stick with us for the long run.”
Jacob’s mum, Angie Tomkins, is one of Make-A-Wish East Gippsland’s founding members and is its current vice president. She and Jacob’s dad, Rohan, are incredibly grateful for the work that went into making Jacob’s wish become reality.
“Make-A-Wish did a fantastic job organising his wish to meet Post Malone, his favourite musician,” Angie said.
“Especially in his teens, life was pretty tough for him, and our family, so to see Jacob get so much out of meeting such a big-hearted celebrity is wonderful. It is certainly an experience he’ll hold with him for a lifetime”
East Gippsland branch president, Bev Sinclair, said the design of wishes is tailored to the child’s greatest wishes and dreams, the result being an extremely positive one for all involved.
“To see the look on a child’s face, when they realise their wish will come true, then the excitement and build up as the wish comes closer and closer, followed by the wish actually happening and then the joy when they remember their wish, it’s a wonderful thing to be a part of,” she said.
This November, Make-A-Wish East Gippsland will celebrate 20 years being a part of granting life-changing wishes. If you have been an East Gippsland volunteer, the branch would love to hear from you.
Anyone interested in being a part of the magic into the future is also encouraged to make contact with Make-A-Wish Australia.
