On Tuesday afternoon, Lydia and her two children, Angelo and Isabella, visited the Northern Health Paediatric Ward with arms full of Easter gifts and hearts full of kindness.

In the lead-up to Easter, Lydia had spoken to her children about what this time of year truly means — not just chocolate eggs and celebrations, but compassion, generosity and caring for others. Together, they carefully chose a small collection of gifts, each one selected with the hope of bringing a smile to a child who may have been spending the holiday in hospital.

As a local resident, Lydia said the visit was something very close to her heart.

“I’m a local, I live in Mickleham, and I just wanted to give back to my community. I also hoped we might see some familiar faces and know that, in some small way, we’ve made a difference,” she said.

What made the visit even more special was the reason behind it. Lydia wanted her children to learn, from a young age, the importance of helping others and showing kindness to people who might be going through a difficult time.

“I think the real Easter message can sometimes get lost,” she said. “I wanted to teach my two kids about the gift of giving – giving without expecting anything in return. I’m hoping that, as they grow up, they’ll carry these traditions with them into their own lives, and maybe one day pass them on to their own children too.”

Their visit followed another beautiful act of generosity just the day before. On Monday, the Epping Football and Netball Club returned for their annual Easter visit, now in its seventh consecutive year, bringing with them a wonderful collection of sweet treats and chocolate eggs.

Their kindness didn’t just brighten the day for the littlest patients in the hospital, but also for staff, patients and visitors across the Emergency Department, Outpatients and other wards. Smiles spread quickly as the team made their way through the hospital, turning an ordinary Monday into something a little warmer, a little kinder and a lot sweeter.

At Northern Health, we see every day how our community comes together to support one another, and these visits were a beautiful reminder of that spirit, warm, genuine and full of heart.

Lydia also shared a heartfelt message for the children and families spending Easter in hospital, wishing them comfort, strength and a speedy recovery.

“Wishing everyone a very happy Easter and a quick recovery. I really hope everyone gets well soon, makes it home safely, and that these little gifts bring a smile to someone’s face,” she said.

Northern Health Executive Director, Public Affairs and Foundation, Pina Di Donato, said the generosity shown by Lydia, her children and the Epping Football and Netball Club reflects the incredible spirit of the local community.

“Northern Health is privileged to be at the heart of such a wonderful community. Their generosity warms our hearts and brings a smile to everyone’s face — from our staff to our patients. Seeing the value of kindness being instilled in these young children is truly uplifting,” she said.

Pictured in featured image: Lydia and her two children with a little patient and her father at the Paediatric Ward, Northern Hospital Epping.