Mt Helen boy granted cubby wish

HE is the little boy with big dreams and yesterday Oscar Matthews' dream came true — his very own cubby house.As a toddler, Oscar was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and endured seven months of intensive treatment in hospital.Now in remission, he appealed to the Make-A-Wish foundation to help grant his wish. And yesterday it was revealed, to the shock and delight of the Mt Helen boy.His mum Rachel said the generosity of those in the community who donated the cubby and its accessories was overwhelming."He's a real outdoors boy so being able to get outdoors and play, especially with his brother (Harry, 3) will be fantastic," she said."He spent pretty much seven months in hospital, where he couldn't get out and play so he will really love the cubby."Ballarat Make-A-Wish president Susie Spratling said it was a very special day for Oscar."As a result of the article in The Courier last month we had a local company called Steel Chief contact us, saying they would like to donate a cubby," she said.Three Steel Chief staff members spent yesterday installing the shed, worth about $3500, while Oscar was at school. It includes a ladder and a letter box, the two things Oscar desperately wanted in his dream play house.Since the cubby was donated the Make-A-Wish head office donated money for Ms Spratling to buy toys and furniture to fit out the new play space.She said when they went over the budget, they were blown away by the generosity of Toy World, which offered to make up the difference.Mt Clear Sand and Soil also chipped in by donating a truckload of sand for the sandpit under the cubby.