At just seven-years-old, Tarni Goldsmith already has the notion of helping others at the forefront of her mind.
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Mother Kelly Pails said Tarni wanted to raise money to help sick children after seeing television commercials such as World Vision’s and watching the Good Friday Appeal.
“We spoke about how she could do that and I said to her it would be nice if we could keep it local because it could be you, your brother or sister who might actually come in here (at the hospital),” Ms Pails said.
The project began last year with Tarni, whose favourite subject at school is art, creating her own crafts and setting up a shop in the house. She managed to raise $130 to buy presents for young patients in the Children’s Ward at Ballarat Base Hospital.
“Last time she filled the art trolley with craft (gifts),” Ms Pails said. “She got to do a tour (of the ward) and meet some of the people so it just made it a bit more real because you could see what was happening and where the money was going.”
This year Tarni set out to beat her record – this time by selling personalised name signs for a gold coin. They’ve been a hit among family and friends, while word has also spread through social media with the help of her mother.
“She has been hard at work with all the orders compared to the crafts the previous time – and now she has her sister inspired to do it,” Ms Pails said.
Tarni had fun picking out all the presents with the $150 she raised, finding things she would like as well as gifts appropriate for all ages.
Among the haul of gifts are colourful pens and stickers, puzzles and a signed copy of children’s book Emergency! Emergency! by Amelia Marshall and Dan Bramall.
The paediatric team helped Tarni distribute the gifts around the Children’s Ward on Wednesday morning, where she met some of the children.
Ms Pails said Tarni had been the main driver behind the whole initiative.
“It’s good that at that age she is thinking of raising money for someone else,” she said. “And each year she seems to want to continue to do it.”