Charity group bringing laughter to the ill
Tue 30 June 2009
Jacqueline Smith, Journalism
Coastal Caring Clowns are in the process of unveiling a website and expanding their services to include the Noosa and Cooroy areas.
Vice president Gus Guthrie, who was the founding president of the group, hoped the website would raise awareness about Coastal Caring Clowns.
“We think there are groups in Melbourne and Canberra but its hard to know or find out, hopefully the website will raise the organisation’s profile in Australia,” Professor Guthrie said.
Coastal Caring Clowns activities officer Lois Bateman believed the success of the group involved the variety of entertainment they offered.
“We use puppets, magic, juggling, singing and balloon sculptures all presented in a fun and caring way to try and distract patients for a short time to make their stay in hospital just a little less painful,” Ms Bateman said.
“Coastal Caring Clowns is a wonderful volunteer group that visits hospitals, nursing homes and respite care centres to cheer up the lives of many Sunshine Coast patients.”
The community-focused group often participated in local events such as the Buderim Australia Day parades and the upcoming Q150 Buderim’s Big Bash event.
These events raised awareness for the group and could raise funds through public donations.
The Coastal Caring Clowns survived mostly on donations and a grant from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
The group had received generous donations from the Forest Glen Holiday Resort, Maroochydore RSL and various community groups who held information nights to raise awareness for the Coastal Caring Clowns group.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council had given a grant of $1500 to help support the group.
The only other revenue the group received was a $25 subscription fee that all members paid.
Coastal Caring Clowns had may have had only 14 active members, but they were always looking for new clowns to join their group so they could visit more hospitals and nursing homes, and to cover their future expansion.
Local founder Barbara Brewster worked with the global founder of the Caring Clowns movement Patch Adams, before moving to the Sunshine Coast where she held several clowning workshops called “Clowning for Cowards”, then formed Coastal Caring Clowns.
Professor Guthrie quoted Dr Adams’ catchphrase, which encompassed his philosophy and drove the Coastal Caring Clowns group.
“'Laughter is the best medicine’, and it’s so true,” Professor Guthrie said.
Dr Adams, whose life was depicted in a film starring comedian Robin Williams, passed on his philosophy of care and laughter to all the caring clown groups.
Dr Adams was often quoted as saying “the most radical thing you can do to change the world is to be a happy person”.
Contact Coastal Caring Clowns by calling vice president Professor Guthrie on (07) 5448 6066.
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